Parc Torres del Paine 2: Base de las Torres

It's not easy. My book says "easy-medium" as a difficulty level but it's not. The first 100 meters I thought I'd DIE. After that I must admit it was the best wandering I have done in my entire life (it was pretty much flat), just beautiful all the way.

And then there it was, the last 100 meters before the top...it had snowed the day before so it was a tiny bit icy. I fell four times, stopped every 5 steps, thought about giving up a hundred times, thinking about while advancing and then, there it was (one hour later), la Base de las Torres, magnificent. I went on the trek with a lovely Brazilian couple who thankfully were a bit slow, which made me feel pretty good cos I was faster (8 hours, they did it in 9 hehe). On the way, I spotted Huemules, sort of Patagonian deer which are really hard to see.

Beginning of the trek

First hundred meters

Halfway, just before reaching Albergue Chileno (breaktime yeeeah!)

A Huemul :)

Cute passage through the trees :)

Snow!!

The end

Proof that I was actually there

Next day I went on a 4 hour horse riding trip with the same people, it was gorgeous! We followed the river Serrano up until the confluent with the river grey. It's like milky blue water coming from the glacier (because it brings sediments) mixing with transparent water. Later on, we had a 10 minute break in front of the cascada Serrano, lovely.

Gonzalo the Gaucho (no I didn't make this up)

Resting time

My horse was called Terror, he was really slow

Next day was resting day for my legs which were stupidly painful. And then the day after that a group of spanish people were heading of to the trek Base de las Torres again, so I though, why the hell not?And there I was again, painfully trekking uphill. This time the guys were properly fit, and fast, and I thought I would die again but after one hour, I stopped feeling my legs at all, so ipod on and here we go again, 6 hours this time, I'm really proud :)

Today it's sunday, empanada's day at the hotel. Empanadas are a speciality made of greasy pastry filled with loads of stuff like meat, eggs, sauce, olives, peas,...Bit like cornish pasty, just better. It's delicious!!

I'm leaving Torres del Paine in a few days, heading for Ushuaia :) Bring it on!!

PS: Matt: I've decided your board shall be named Rose, Rosy for the intimate...

And also, I really like your van (how about "Harry the van"?) I demand a roadtrip next summer...

Oh and niiice choice of camera ;) Have fun surfing x

Parc Torres del Paine 1: Cabañas del Paine

I've finally arrived at the Parc Torres del Paine where I will be working as a tour guide. The hotel sits just outside the parc, 7 km away from the main entrance, on the shores of the River Serrano. On nice days, the view from the hotel (and from my room, bonus!) is of the Cuernos del Paine, a group of mountains that are the highlight of the parc together with the three summets called the "Torres" (thus the name's parc). The Torres are harder to see though, I've only had a glimps a couple of times. I should get to see them from closer up pretty soon :)










First day was pretty nice, I went for a little walk up to the Mirador Serrano, lots of wind but when you look at the view you forget about it:

Next day, I woke up and everything was covered in snow and the next two days after that was just hiding inside away from the chilling cold.













Today is a nice day again, I got to see condors high up in the sky (i'd put some pictures but they'll probably look like little black spots in the sky ;))

For the moment, I have to learn about all the work here. The season properly starts after the 15th so I'll probably be off learning about the treks soon, can't wait!

Punta Arenas: Petit trip a Fuerte Bulnes et environs

Deja presque une semaine que je suis a Punta Arenas, la capitale de la Region de Magallanes, en Patagonie. Tout pres du bout du monde donc, et ca se sent!!Le temps ici passe du coq a l'ane en 5 minutes, ne jamais sortir sans ses couches, son bonnet, ses gants,... c'est un des premiers conseils qu'on m'a donne en arrivant!! Par exemple, vendredi il fesait bien 10 degres au soleil, sans vent, puis tout d'un coup il neige, il vente et la temperature ressentie descend jusque -5 degre!!Faut s'adapter quoi!

Aujourd'hui, je suis partie en minitrip avec des amis qui, pour la plupart, bossent pour la "Patagonian Expedition Race", une course assez extreme qui se deroulera a la Terra del Fuego en fevrier.

D'autres amis sont, eux, chercheurs en biologie marine. L'un d'eux a ete plonger pour aller chercher des etoiles de mer!Assez sympa comme etudes, par contre l'eau etait a 5 degres, c'etait assez impressionant de le voire plonger ;)

Seaweed, anyone?

Direction Fuerte Bulnes, un fort reconstitue situe a 60 km environ de Punta Arenas. C'est construit en bois, au bord du Pacific, j'ai bien aime. Ensuite, petite ballade en voiture pour se rapprocher du dernier phare du continent sud americain, Faro San Isidro. Faute de route naviguable, on s'y est juste rapproche, en faisant une belle ballade de quelques heures au bords de l'eau. Toute bonne surprise au retour, on a pu apercevoir des dauphins!C'etait magique!!

Pour ceux qui veulent me faire un coucou a 10 euros/minutes ils peuvent maintenant le faire au +56 99 6942647

I have a new chilean phone number in case you want to say hi + 56 99 6942647