Spring 2011, exploring Chilean and Argentinean Patagonia.
April 5 2011 — Arrived ok to Puerto Natales before noon, by boat from Puerto Montt. Weather was more sunny today, it was quite misty and rainy boat trip. But views and trip in general was memorable. There were not many signs of human settlement along the Chilean coast. At one part of the way, boat exits from protecting archipelago to open seas of South Pacific (Golfo de Penas). That happened in the middle of night while sleeping. I woke being inside giant washing machine. My cabin mate was lifting our bags from floor that had buckets of water rolling. Nice wakeup! @ Puerto Natales
Puerto Natales, Chile
April 7 2011 — Went to Torres del Paine today. Scenery was just stunning, postcard like! High mountains, bright blue and green lagoons, dramatic cloudy skies, guanacos and condors. Weather also was gentle for us, as this time of year it can rain days in row. At some places, winds were very strong. It indeed felt like the edge of the world, just as Tibet was the roof of world.
Torres del Paine national park, Chile
I’ve ended up much more South than originally planned, tomorrow its time to start correcting the “error” and jump bus to El Calafate, see glaciers and continue again North towards Buenos Aires @ Puerto Natales
On Road in Patagonia
April 8 2011 — Came to Argentina today. My first visit to Chile left only good memories. Beautiful country and people! Drive North from Porto Natales was through empty pampas that had only cattle grazing on few spots. In its vast emptiness, scene evokes imagination. How would it be to live here… @ El Calafate
Glacier Perito Moreno, Argentina
April 10 2011 — Lazy Sunday in Calafate, and tomorrow morning bus to Comodoro Rivadavia. Did some laundry today + organizing photos from past days.
Trip to Glacier Perito Moreno was another highlight of my trip in this part of world. Weather was nice in afternoon, and ice monolith is just massive. It is a river of ice, that rolls forward like a slow lava. Ice constantly lives, cracks size of a building falling off and splashing to water. Current melting edge was snow in high Andes, about 500 years ago. So, at the time Columbus was trying to find new sea route from Europe to India, water was frozen and became part of glacier. Gives a bit of perspective to our human limitations. @ El Calafate
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