For The Love of Travel

Even more beauty?  It is possible in this amazing landscape….yes siree…off to see Cascada Paine (waterfall) 

the “Horns” again;  

Sarmiento Lake (it’s edge marked by extensive calcium deposits) 

and a lovely vicuna, that popped out of nowhere to ‘bomb’ a photo I was taking!

There are so many breathtaking moments. You come around the bend and there is the mountain range again from a different angle – with verdant grasses; or spring flowers; or lake views….those ‘horns’ are incredibly impressive – majestic granite spires that soar skywards ! 

And as I was on the last leg of my return journey – I saw a riding group on pampa horses, clomping their way back to one of the ranches, perfectly silhouetted against the mountain! Gorgeous!

In days gone past, I would have loved to do the circuit of Torres del Paine ….but now, car travels will have to suffice…..

A beautifully sunny day….off to explore the lakes and mountain views. Firstly to Lago Grey (the graveyard of ice flows). Off the carpark, you enter a mature Lenga tree forest where you can see Magellanic woodpeckers and cachañas (I didn’t!). The 5 km hike continues along the beach at the far end of Lake Grey with views of the icebergs breaking away from Grey Glacier with their amazing blue colour and shapes, and of course, a lovely view of Grey Glacier itself. A hard walk on soft undulating pebbles! but worth it. Massaging Ice Gel or Voltaren into knees tonight! 

Then across Lago Lankal, beautiful views over Lago Pehoe to Salto Grande. Closer up views of ‘the Horns of Paine’;

Glacier Frances; Cerro Paine Grande and Glacier Torres. 

What beauty….a 6 hour trip of gorgeousness.

3 hour bus trip from Punta Arenas to Puerto Natales, a jumping off point to visit Torres del Paine National Park. Picked up my car and I was off on the next adventure…..coming across unsealed roads very quickly, that would be the serrated surface of all my trips in the National Park in the coming days. And very dusty roads to boot…

My first views of the Massif Range over Lago Toro that late afternoon. 

A view of my cabin from the hill overlooking the Rio Serrano…

Only to discover that I had been billeted to another hotel for the night, Pampa Lodge, a kilometre down the road, as my hotel had a busload of unruly guests the previous day who had trashed a number of rooms that had to be repaired (quickly). 20 guests had to be re-accommodated apparently. 

I was very happy with my billet! Lovely view from bedroom and lounge; comfortable accommodations and attentive staff.

Fab restaurant linked to the Lodge, Quicho, 400 metres away, with a delicious salad of broccoli, lettuce and a new veggie for me, palmito (the edible inner part of the stem of the cabbage palm tree, with a flavour similar to artichoke/asparagus) – flavoured with a delectable lemon/garlic dressing!!!

And the sunset! Beautiful! Really looking forward to adventures tomorrow. 

The staff have fired up the heaters for the night and there is a lovely alpine wood smell and instant warmth when you come out of the howling wind.