Page 6 of dave reynolds Travel Blog Posts


South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Chiloé Island » Castro March 14th 2012

So, it's into Chiloe. An island 250km long and 80km wide. Sitting just of off the coastof Chile it feels like I am heading for the final frontier. I am heading for the principle town of Castro. I haveno room booked and hope to save some cash by a walk in. Leon at La Ruca has also given me some recommendsIIt's funny yesterday I woke up and the time on my chile cell phone was one hour faster than my I-touch. Thought it was an internal error on my mp3 player and set the correct time by the clock on the wall. Into town and when talking to Tom he was an hour late meeting Krista for lunch. ... read more
a wooden chuch
Palafitas- casacon peines
Andy and G

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt March 12th 2012

I am writing this entry sat under a cloudless sky. The sun is high in the sky and for the first time in two weeks I am warm. The dormant volcano dominates the skyline and my two companeros, Karina and Andy are walking the shore line of the lake we have found. So,I arrived at the unholy hour of 8am off the boat to the querkiest guest house so far. La Roca. A small house in a Alpine summerhouse style with wooden effect finish. It's is painted a runny shite brown with lime green windows. If it was a bigger house it would look like something out of the horror film, Amityville. It is tiny though, and reckon there could be much banging of head on door frames. Owner though is a great fellow, Leon. His ... read more

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Varas March 9th 2012

Capatins log dated Wed 7th March Weather same as yesterday . Cloudy and overcast . Rain. Wind 4 occasional 3 falling. It' s amazing to think that 24hrs after leaving Puerto Natales and navigating through the fjords no human habitation at all in this desolate yet beautiful land. The journey is 1460km (900 miles) and I am wondering if we will see any other human life at all between here and our destinstion Puerto Montt. I have never been to a fjord and it is quite eerie. Land to port and starboard occasionally only 130 metres wide for navigation and yet no human lif or recognisable building. Looking out the window it is if you are stuck in a film loop and I joked with Megan from NZ that actually we were stationary and that there ... read more
sun shining at last
beer o'clock
motley crew

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Puerto Natales March 5th 2012

Dropped round Erratic rock and said my goodbyes. Photo of the team and me for posterity. Its phiily cheese steak sandwich tonight. Shall miss them all and the good cheap food and drink. Promised to return one day. Might even come back for the season and help out at the bar. Life has a funny way of lending a hand in this area. Writing this entry on first day on board the navimag. (navi as in Irish road builder- navvy) Calm day. Sun breaking though occasionally as boat makes its way through the fjords of Patagonia. ( or feeordland as the american folks on the boat call it). Mountain and glaciers to the left and right. A beautiful setting. Saw a whale this morning .so lucky . Came out of the cabin onto the port side ... read more

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Puerto Natales March 2nd 2012

2nd March 2012. Happy St Davids day for yesterday to all my welsh readers. Sat here in the Lilo Patagonicos hostel in Peurto Natales, a town the size of a postage stamp, letting my leg recover and wait for the 'Navimag' ship to arrive in a few days to continue my journey north. This will be an old freighter. The company have taken advantage of the tourist/traveller situation and so now offer a limited number of berths to the likes of me who want to sail for 4 days on the Pacific Ocean though the fjiords. Have already bought sufficent wine for the journey. Those I have spoken to who have arrived in PN from the north by freighter have all raved about it. whale and dolphin watching, the amazing coastline and the comerardie of the ... read more
Balloo the bear
The sea around Puerto Natales
The Inner sanctum

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Torres del Paine February 25th 2012

So, Torres del Paine National Park. A vast protected wilderness in the Andes. You can walk the circuit which takes 8 days, but I have decided 4 night 5 days is enough to walk the 'W'. This involves hiking up to a glacier, back down on myself the following day, across to a campsite which from there walk up a valley to watch avalances. Back down and then the big push to the torres /towers, standing over 1000 meters. Most campsites have no or very basic facilities. have a set of clothes to walk in, a clean set for evening, tent, roll mat, sleeping bag, some food and first aid kit. No internet, wifi mobile.perfecto Day 1. I am writing this journal entry in my diary from the edge of Lago Grey. There is not a ... read more
on the trail
Valley Francaise
peace in patagonia

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Puerto Natales February 23rd 2012

So, up at the crack of sparrows and re-met Jack and Claudia from Aspen who were on the calamity boat yeseterday. Claudia is the sister in law of Jack, who's mum and dad fell ill on a cruise and were dropped off in Punta Arenas and have been here for three weeks in a local hospital. his dad has developed double pneumonia and mum has a broken ankle. They fly out with them tomorrow and my thoughts are with his folks. Anyways, we take a fast speed boat to see the pengiuns and then it's coffee and Pisco sour, a delicious Chille rum based drink. Also saw a sealion colonly and the smell was quite overpowering. Really, sealion shit really is pungent. As a bonus on the way back saw some dolphns, so a good day. ... read more
Teirra del Feugo
los pengiunos

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 21st 2012

This blog is dedicated to the ´'Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner´´ by Samuel Coleridge. So, Punta Arenas. cold and grey. could do with a good lick of paint of you ask me. the hostel (Estancia) is lovely and just like and old saloon bar from the wild west. Rickety floors, that rustic paint look and an old stove that is something to behold. The owner, Alessandro is a lovley host and full of excellent information. Met a woman in the bar last night who gave good tips too, and reckon she saved me 300 quid on not venturing further south as there really is nothing to see that you cannot see from Punta Arenas. This will also give me more time in Torres del Paine too, the valleys between the two mountains like horns where " ... read more
my lift

South America » Chile » Magallanes » Punta Arenas February 20th 2012

book I am now reading: Operation Mincemeat. the true story of deception in WW2 that saved countless thousands of allied lives. became a film - The man who never was. Personnes Ingles I have met so far - ZERO. I remember some time ago someone asked me, when I came back from travelling Vietnam, where next dave? I wasn´t sure at the time but I guess, looking back, a small seed was sown by my history teacher, Mr Pratley. A most wondeful man, full of stories and making history come alive. A joint geograhy-history project completed was about the Inca civilisation in Peru, and included in this was geography of the region, the Andes that form the backbone of the continent, how it this huge mountain range affects everyday life to chileans, peruvians etc. I guess ... read more

South America » Chile » Santiago Region » Santiago February 20th 2012

Hostel al Patagonco peurto natales draft. workin title. Cumpleanos Deigo.reading..che guevara motorclye diaries. missing PG tips so went for a stroll around the city and ended the day at a birthday party in a downtown bar. the people in this city are great. travellerw freindly and locals warm in hospitality. spent the day saying some farewells to those I had got to know on friday and then went in search of an ATM and to retrace the steps of Che Guevara in his book. There is a photo taken by him of his friend Alberto and others in a park called Santa Lucia, in the cetre of Santiago. The book is an excellent read and I finished it on the plane. I have now given it to a few traveller Ralph from Berlin. His favorite film ... read more
Santiago
santiago




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