This morning, when we went downstairs for breakfast, we were ecstatic to see that our luggage had arrived in the middle of the night! Glory Hallelujah! I was so thrilled that I decided to levitate.
Today, we took a day tour to the Torres del Paines National Park, the main attraction in this region of Chile. We started off our day at the Cave de Miladon, a huge gaping mouth carved into the side of a giant block of granite. About a hundred years ago, some Swedish scientists discovered pieces of skin from an extinct herbivorous animal, and deduced that the animal had coexisted with humans at some point in time.
After 45 minutes trying to figure out just how far back the cave went, we got back on the van and headed to the Torres, or, the towers. We traveled on unpaved, pothole ridden roads still wet from the storms of the previous night. Soon, our eyes cast upon these treasures...
Guanacos, a funny looking animal, and a flying saucer disguised as a cloud.
The beautiful green waters (green due to mineral deposits of magnesium, sodium and calcium) of Lake Sarmiento with the snow-covered granite towers shrouded in clouds, as the fresh air filled Jack with such joy that he did a little song and dance...
Through the thick clouds, you can barely make out the tooth-shaped Torres...
And from a different view point, the Torres again, as I point them out, just in case you miss them!
This little fox was so comfortable with us around that he posed for us en vogue...
Our last stop at Lago Grey to see the Gray Glacier required hiking across a beach blowing with the strongest winds I've ever experienced. Jack said it was a lot like Chicago. The lake is the coldest in the park, with the run off from Gray Glacier melting into it, and sending giant icebergs floating towards the beach.
Here is the glacier in the far distance.
What an amazing day! This was certainly a highlight for us, and I'm sure it will be for the entire trip. The shapes of things here in Patagonia are so profoundly dramatic, and the southern sun seems to hit the landscape in a distinctly different way than what we're used to, drawing forth an intensity in color and shadow that leaves us speechless, yet bursting with excitement at the same time. We've only been here 2 full days and probably already have at least 600 photos! It's somehow reminiscent of New Zealand, with much of the same topography, even existing at roughly the same latitude, although Patagonia itself is the southern most piece of land in the world, aside from Antarctica. Yet, things here are bigger, sharper, at once ephemeral, raw, and mythical. It's an experience.
Tomorrow, we bid farewell to this incredible land, and head north to continue our journey.
2 comments:
wow. do you realize how incredibly lucky you are to be able to be where you are right now?? and hooray for the bags arriving!! now you have no excuse for not bringing me back some souveniers, too!
this is beatuful!!! i wanna go too!!!
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