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 |    My random thoughts and reactions to my everyday life. The voices like a forum. |
| DAY 21, August 21 Aug 22--Day 3: Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine -- Puerto Natales (B, L)An early start after breakfast takes you on a full-day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere. Traveling through Patagonia’s rugged steppe country, an important habitat for many endangered species. See herds of sheep and native guanacos (animals that look like a cross between a llama and a camel) and notice the rugged snow-capped Torres del Paine mountains towering in the background. Visit Salto Grande waterfall on the Pehoe River and Patagonia’s lovely lakes Pehoe and Grey, overlooked by the snowy white peaks of Grey Glacier. The excursion returns to Puerto Natales in the evening. https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductDetail-g297401-d11449023-Chilean_Pa... We'll be visiting the national park too. Our hotel for the night is https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g297400-d11911786-Reviews-Simple_Patago... Today, we hiked into the rugged beauty of Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage biosphere. Our guide explained that "torres" is Spanish for towers, and "paine' is native Tehuelche for the colour blue. This terrain has been named The Towers of Blue to recognize three immense granite towers that represent the area. It is quite the striking and imposing sight. The snow-capped mountains appear to be supporting endless fluffy clouds. The sky is a marvelous, vivid blue and it seems to stretch into infinity. There are only so many English words to describe breathtaking, spectacular, fantastic, gorgeous. The landscape is lovely. Photographs cannot do this geography justice. Soaring peaks are mirrored in pristine lakes, some blue, and some green. The Salto Grande waterfall echoes in a rush and a roar as the water cascades over rocks. The Grey Glacier is an enormous sculpture of ice and snow. Our Guide was quick to point out wildlife. One creature is somewhat like a cross between a llama and a camel. Locals refer to it as "guanacos." Ostrich-like birds, rheas, stroll on long legs. Thousands of Magellan geese congregate. They remind me of the Canada Geese back home. Both are viewed by some as pests that eat pastures intended for cattle and sheep. Birds are plentiful here. Lucky are they who glimpse an Andean Condor, or a Rufous-tailed Hawk. In contrast to the rock and short grasses, I spied a welcome bunch of colour. A flower glowed in shades of yellow, brownish red and white. Our Guide told me this was Darwin's slipper. Not so strange, when at home, I see a flower known as Dutchmen's Breeches. The names are often fanciful. All of this wandering in fresh air was divine. Tonight's place of rest, the Simple Patagonia Hotel, is an oasis of comfort. One unique feature is an entire wall of glass on the seaward side. While my feet relaxed, I could still partake of the magnificent mountain views. Once again, the sunset was awe-inspiring. |
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