Blogs from Torres del Paine, Magallanes, Chile, South America - page 18

Op 9 januari aangekomen in Puerto Natales om heel de namiddag grote inkopen te doen om "el circuito" in het nationaal park Torres Del Paine te overleven. Een gasvuurtje, pan, bekers,bestek, regenkledij, handschoenen en kilo´s eten gingen de volgende dagen onze rugzak maken tot een stevig pakket van 15 kilo. De volgende dag om 7.30u de bus genomen naar Torres Del Paine om rond 11u onze eerste stappen te zetten van onze 9 dagen durende tocht in de natuur. De eerste dag hebben we 14km gestapt tussen de bloemen op een vlak weggetje dat tussen de bergen kronkelde naar de eerste camping Seron. Deze dag was niet zwaar maar toch even wennen vanwege de zware balast die we voor de eerste keer gedurende lange tijd op onze rug droegen. Diezelfde avond kennis gemaakt met enkele mede-el-circuito-stappers ... read more

We spent the weekend at Torres del Paine National Park and what a weekend it was. All the superlatives you can muster don't do justice to Torres del Paine - a stunning setting with snow-capped granite peaks, lakes, rivers, glaciers and mountain valleys. On Friday we drove from Punta Arenas to the National Park via Puerto Natales and arrived there for a truck lunch near Lago Grey Hotel. Then it was off on a boat tour on Lago Grey to see the Grey Glacier at its northern end. It took an age to get there but was well worth it when we did - the sheer size of the glacier along with the sculpted, blue-tinged edge was spectacular. While the boat was wandering along the glacier's edge, we were served with pisco sour (a local drink) ... read more

PUNTA ARENAS, TORRES DEL PAINE 30.12.2009-3.1.2010 Barbadoksella alkoivat Braunin Oral-B -sähköhammasharjan harjat loppua. Arvatkaa yritinkö löytää niitä eri suurkaupunkien - Quito, Lima, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires - sähkölaitteiden erikoiskaupoista, useista suurista tavarataloista ja apteekeista. Kukaan ei ollut koskaan kuullutkaan moisesta. Panin kaiken kielitaidottomuuteni piikkiin. ”Tiene cepillos electricos para los dientes?” Kysyin neuvoa hostellien pitäjiltä, espanjankielen opettajilta, turisti-infojen emänniltä. Eteläamerikkalaiseen maailmankuvaan ei mahdu sähköhammasharja, päättelin. Se on sitäkin hämmästyttävämpää, kun Quiton, Liman, Rion ja Buenos Airesin aika mahtipontisista kaupungeista voi muuten ostaa vaikka mitä ihmeellistä, outoa ja harvinaista. Sinänsä pieni asia - sähköhammasharjan kaipuu - saattaa alentaa elämässä viihtymistä oleellisesti. Keräsin rohkeu... read more

Vik's share: An erupting earthquake interrupted our best-laid plans, and in order to progress southward from Chiloe we first had to retrace our steps north. A mad dash for the ferry at Puerto Montt proved hot and fruitless (said ferry was full) and so it was back to the bus in order to journey on. The prospect of a 24-hour journey 'classico' style (classico being a fancy way of saying 'no frills') was only further brightened by our designated route; a great big lovely loop that took us out of Chile, into Argentina, back into Chile. Four border crossings, brilliant, more games. And the really marvellous bit was that we were aiming for Argentina anyway...but of course we couldn't get off there, we were on a Chilean bus. But as our options were not proving enormous, ... read more

Buonasera a tutti, this is going to be a short blog as I cant get wifi ......so am on the peoples pc... Ok left this morning at 5.30 from El Calafate.....all went efficiantly and well with Always Glaciers....I just had to keep reminding them that I was staying in Chile and not going back to Argentina.....like everyone else........... Got through customs and immigration after the customary search for drugs, food etc......they wondered why I had left Chile 10 days ago and now returned........told them I loved it that much couldnt stay away! We then went into the National Park................it was awesome......took hundreds of images....then went trecking for a couple of hours....you have to be here to appreciate this ......Switzerland on steroids! Now the letdown.............Puerto Natales is a dump!....thats it, am glad am only staying here the ... read more