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Published: October 20th 2006
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Hola
So the next part of our journey takes us to Chile.
We really wanted to go to Ushaia but due to time constraints we had to give it a miss.
Getting to Puerto Natales from PM was a mission in itself. After another!! 20 hours bus journey to Rio Gallegos we had to get a 4 hour bus journey to Rio Turbio and then get another bus to cross the boarder to Chile.
We helped out another English older couple get to PN too so hanging with them passed the time. It turned out to be lucky that we had decided to give Ushaia a miss though as if we did want to go there there were no buses for 2 days!
Maz met this guy from Hong Kong on the bus who began to panic when they kicked him off the bus without his luggage and drove off. By now we have learnt that they do this to go and fill up petrol and clean the bus for the new passengers etc so we tried explaining this to him but he was so panicky it was really hard to get through to him.. eventually
Yummy
How cute does Maz look?
he said... "are you sure, they have everything of mine on bus, if they leave I have nothing so I have to stay here and die". I wet myself. Drama queen. I still p i ssing myself thinking about it and Maz cant stop repeating it.
Anway, when we got eventually to PN, we booked into the Francis Drake Hotel which was really nice and had a miniture bath which I squeezed into and had my first bubble bath in ages! Nothing like travelling in style.... when you can.
The reason for our trip to PN is to get to Torres del Paine. A park where people can see glaciers and other beautiful sights. People can choose to do the W hike or the full circuit. The W takes about 4 to 5 days and as we dont have the time or the inclination we chose for our own personal Route... The I.... Which basically is up and down! AND THANK GOD thats what we did!
So the story begins. We woke up early (6)and got the bus to the Park entrance which is a 3 hour journey. As the snowy black mountains approached I started s hi tting myself. I clung onto my napsack with sweaty palms and felt like I was being dropped off in an army zone or something. I am such a shesa! Maz on the other hand kept interupting my thoughts with visions on how he would like to eat all the sheep he kept seeing. He then carried on to explain that see all these sheep was like finding loads of money and not being able to take any! Is anyone else getting worried?
When we got to the park entrance, to get to the glacier grey which is where we were heading we had to get a catamaran to the beginning. The catamaran is half hour and not rough so the ride was cool (or the panic had numbed me)! but the sights of the mountains and rivers were amazing and definately worth looking out for!
When we arrived we got ready, put our hats and scarves on and started our 3.5 hour trek to the refuge near the glacier. Luckily our hotel manager let us keep our big bags at the hotel so we only had our small ones to carry.
The trip itself took over 4.5 hours. The last hour was painful and it was mostly uphill with galeforce winds going against us. At one point we had to go down really steeply these rocks streaming of water, I just got on my ar se and sh ot down. We met a group of boys and two girls on the way and the last hour we spent with them. We also ran out of water so I was getting to the point where if I didnt get there soon....! However, when you first see the glacier it is mouth dropping. It spreads for miles and miles. It is truly amazing.
When we got to the refugee and gasped for water and they showed us our mattress and our sleeping bags. Originally we were going to camp outside but at the last minute the Shesa chickened out and begged Maz to stay in the Refugee for at least the first night. THANK GOD THAT WE DID! It was freeziiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing and the guys we met had to sleep outside. They stayed in for as long as was possible but then when they had to go outside I felt for them. If I had to go outside I would have cried until I puked!
The next day, we went woke up and went for another 2 hour trek to get more close to the glacier... this trek was worse than yesterdays as it was more steep up hill. Maz bless him tried to make it fun for me by pretending I was a train or a horse... I know I know BUT it was no use and at one point I shed a tear..or two. Maz was okay with the whole thing though.... luckily so he could help me out! Mel, Ben how u did Kilamanjaro is beyond me and I will give you a little prize when I get back! we both applaud you. However, yet again the sights when we made it to the top were pretty amazing, making the pain worth while and Maz really felt it more than I did (as I just wanted to get back before a Puma ate me)!
On the way back though it was easy and we made it back in about an hour which was cool and we spent the rest of the time by the fire. On the way back we passed 4 older older couples (definately in their 60s) who had done the 4 hour hike up to the refugee, the 2 hour trek to glacier grey we just did, then were going all the way back before nightfull - HOW CAN BE!!!!! Put me to shame to say the least!
We had also bought our own food so we made spagetti on both nights which was cool.
The men at the refugee are also really jolly and giggly. We wish we could have spoken Spanish cos we could have had such a laugh with them. Theres one guy in particular who I wanted to take home but Maz wouldnt let me. He so cute. We met him on the bus coming and he laughed at us when we told him where we were going... we later realised what he was trying to tell us was that he was getting a boat to the same place and we had to trek for 3 hours to get there.....
The next day we had to wake up early again and do the trek back to the catamaran which actually wasnt that bad and we made it in about 3.5 hours this time.
Back in PN, I never been so happy and we decided trekking is not for us at all... although I wouldnt mind rock climbing next! Seriously. When we had to rock climb for a bit to get back it was fun!
Anyway after a good ol' sleep it was time to wake up at 5.54 to get our bus to our next destination!
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Smel
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Are your knees F*cked yet???
Hey dudes Love the journels, keep them coming. Yes Pen, Ben and I deserve a prize, it was the hardest thing we have ever done but def worth it when you get to the top, so I know how u feel... and it's soooo freezing that you feel like giving up on life then you remember that this is your honeymoon so you trudge on and try to make the most of it. My knees are busted since Kili, stilL hurts now so be careful guys, anyways lots of love MEL XXXX ps I'm gonna make Maz the largest lamb spit roast mmmm its making me hungry