Whole Travel Blog

I know we promised summer in winter. As it turns out if you visit the southernmost reaches of the Patagonia you can experience all four seasons in the course of an hour. The Whole Travel team experienced this as they visited the Perito Moreno Glacier, temperatures swung by thirty degrees with intermittent wind and rain. The glacier highlights the importance of sustainable travel. It is located on the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the world’s largest reserve of freshwater. Perito Moreno is notable because it is one of only three glaciers in the area that are not retreating.

Perito Moreno Glacier

In the waning moments of 2008, much of the world’s attention was focused on a large ball that symbolically drops in Times Square in Manhattan. Over the past two years, this tradition has been “greened”, starting with the lights used to illuminate the ball. For the first 99 years of this annual event, the ball was lit with 100 incandescent bulbs, each 25 watts. Last year, for the 100th anniversary, the lighting was changed to LEDs. And this year, the size of the ball was doubled but the entire energy consumption is about equal to operating two conventional ovens.

The Green New Year's Ball Used 32,256 LED lights

As technology continues to improve, there are lots of opportunities to maintain traditions but improve their sustainability. We’re excited to see the Times Square tradition adding a shade of green right when everyone is making resolutions for the next year. There’s an entire article on the ball at the New York Times, check it out, and look for the ball next time you’re in Manhattan!