Monday, 29 January 2018

Torres del Paine National Park and Marion at Fort Bulnes

Today we went our separate ways as I was taking a long day trip to the Torres del Paine National Park. Marion on the other hand discovered the surrounds of Puerto Arenas where we docked early this morning. This port of about 120,000 people is the base for serious Antarctic expeditions and re-provisioning of the research stations down there. The serious ice breaking supply ship that we were berthed next to evidenced this.

Unfortunately it was very wet when we first disembarked from the ship, however this gave rise to some beautiful rainbows. I had a coach ride to the local airport where we boarded three small planes. Mine was the largest of the three, a nineteen seat twin otter, flown by two pilots who conformed to all the stereotypes of Latin pilots in their leather flying jackets with epaulettes. However it was an uneventful forty-five minute flight, excepting that I got wet from a drip in the emergency exit, to Puerto Natales. This was quite the smallest airport I have ever used; the evidence was that we were the only passengers to use it today.

It was then another coach ride to the national park. On the way our guide gave us the history of Chile from the year dot. We stopped several times particularly for wildlife, there were many lamas, some wild ostriches and flamingos, perhaps not what I expected to see in this area of pampas. Indeed otherwise we only saw perhaps three farms on the entire trip of almost one hundred miles.

The Torres de Paine is an imposing mountain range, distinguished by three pinnacles or towers. At first they were obscured by low cloud but as the day progressed it became clearer and the full magnificence of the peaks was evident. In front of the mountains were very blue lakes, the colour caused because they contain the glacial alluvial material as part of the melt water. This of course makes for lovely photographs.
The day was over too soon and it was time to return the way we had come, again taking a flight back to the Quest. Just back in time for an excellent Singaporean themed dinner washed down by a glass of Grolsch.  So now to Marion for news of her day.

I too set out in a coach to reach my destination, which was Fort Bulnes. The best part of this trip was the drive along the Magellan Straits, which really is lovely.  Clear seas whipped up by what I gather is the pretty well permanent strong wind and the land covered in wild lupins, mostly of pink and purple.  The fort itself was a little unexpected. I had expected a fairly substantial stone building so was surprised to see something more like the OK Corral!!  It was, in fact, a relatively recent reconstruction of the original. We were back to the ship in time for me to have lunch and then I went to the coffee bar come library come observation lounge and settled in a reclining chair watching the view and reading my book – until I fell asleep.  The nice thing about ship life is that we have met some very nice people (and some rather weird ones!!) but nobody invades your space  - you can have company or not, just as you choose.  The experience of shipboard life is not at all what I expected and I have really enjoyed it.

No comments:

Post a Comment