. . . . . . . .time to take a step back and think about life.

Street Art - Patagonia Expedition, Chile - March 2018

TORRES del PAINE National Park, Chile. . . . . . Part I

Puerto Natales, Chile

Torres del Paine National Park

March 13, 2018

Temp. Range 40-51F 

Showers possible all day

By 8:30 am we were in Zodiacs being transported ashore to Puerto Natales.

Three clean and comfy buses were awaiting to take us on the 1.5 hour 

drive through the Chilean countryside to the Torres del Paine National Park.

Declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1978, it was voted the 8th wonder of

the world in 2014 by people from all over the world!

This park, in Chile’s Patagonia region, is known for its soaring mountains, 

bright blue icebergs and ice floes that cleave from many glaciers, and golden

 pampas (grasslands) that shelter rare wildlife such as llama-like guanacos. 

Lake Grey, the Grey Glacier visible left of photo.

Our stop for lunch was at Hosteria Grey, an attractive tourist complex on

 Lake Grey with magnificent views from the restaurant. The property is

 surrounded by forests of lenga and coigue hardwood trees serving as

a refuge for the south Andean deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus), also known

as the southern guemal, an endangered species native to the mountains of 

Argentina and Chile.

Lake Grey with blue ice floe and the Grey Glacier. . . . . light rain falling.

A small iceberg.

Wish we'd had time to kayak there.

Following the tasty lunch, we moved on to the central area of the park consisting

 of the alpine massif with three imposing granite 'Torres' or towers that reach

 over 10,000 feet, together with several lesser 'Cuernos' or horns which are formed

 of black shale.

It was quite cloudy with light rain, however we did get quite good views of this

 spectacular landscape. . . . . . . 

. . . . . . here's a photo to whet your appetite - next time in Part II I'll show you much more!

FIN DEL MUNDO - here we come. . . . . . .

. . . . . .soon we'll be leaving on our expedition trip, starting from
 Ushuaia, Argentina  - fin del mundo, the end of the world!

Not quite as far south as Antarctica this time, but far enough to view
 snow-capped mountains and glaciers, some amazing scenery, wildlife,
 and of course birds . . . . . . my dream is to see an Andean condor in flight!

Fortunately, sailing from Ushuaia, the rounding of the turbulent seas of 
Cape Horn will be via the Beagle Channel so hoping we'll not be tossed too
 badly. Bob has loaded up on seasickness pills but we're hoping for smooth
 sailing! It will be his first time riding on Zodiacs so packing waterproofs and
 warm clothing for life on a cold sea, is all part of this new experience for him.

I made this little map to give you an idea of our route.  

Starting from Raleigh, NC to Argentina via Dallas, TX - where we'll
 meet up with our friends, Paula, Kim & Rob, coming from San Francisco.
The overnight flight is long, arriving in Buenos Aires the next morning.

In Buenos Aires we join the group sailing with us, 120 passengers, and the
 expedition team. The crew will be waiting with the ship in Ushuaia.

 With two nights in Buenos Aires, a fun city, we'll have time for sightseeing
 and practicing our tango dancing before flying to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego -
see more about my previous visit here -  the southernmost city in the world which
 was also the jump off point when I sailed to Antarctica in 2013.

In Ushuaia we embark the beautiful Hebridean Sky. As we sail away on the
 evening tide to Chile, views such as this will be waiting as we visit the fjords,
 national parks, small coastal towns and villages, and islands.
  Hoping for good weather, smooth water for Zodiac rides, and sunshine
 for good photos to share with you later!

"Hasta luego"