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Torres del Paine and other wonders of Chile

For those who like to read this is not going to be a good post. For those who like pictures it will be a bit better.

It’s about the two days I spent in Puerto Nadales and the second day excursion to the Bernardo O’Higgins and Torres del Paines parks.

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Looks like I can find a bit of home nearly everywhere.

The day I spent in Puerto Nadales I caught up with electronic life as well as walking around extensively taking pictures of things I found interesting.

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At the time I thought this was a good scenery but I would see better.

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Fab sculpture at the fiord side.

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We are not as far south as I thought we’d be.

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Nice fountain, you’ll see how children use it.

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Not sure how they don’t get pneumonia?

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My sister would be in tears if her kids were to do this.

Then on day two I got up early to get to the agency for 7:30 and catch the boat up the fiord.

The tour would follow the Last Hope Sound see several waterfalls and glaciers, eat lunch, sail up the Rio Serrano with a combination of Zodiacs and get back on a minibus.

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The plan for the day, first dotted green then solid red, then dotted black.

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Leaving the dock

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With escort

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Looking back to the east

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Looking forward to northwest.

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With more wildlife.

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Sound side attractions.

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And more

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Cormorant cove (my name.)

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With backdrop.

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And the mad scramble to take pictures of the Cormorants.

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More sun worshiping art.

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Panorama 1

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Panorama 2

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Panorama 3

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Creationists, eat your hearts out, this is plaque tectonic at work.

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Balmaceda Glacier, take 1

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That white spot up there is a condor. I wish I had my camera moment.

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Wow (portrait)

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Wow (landscape)

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Then I go and ruin it.

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Wow (close up)

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Balmaceda Glacier, take 2

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Balmaceda Glacier, take 3

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Balmaceda Glacier, take 4

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Balmaceda Glacier, take 5

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Balmaceda Glacier, take 6

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More glaciers outflow

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Will be landing somewhere out there.

So, just to update you it was a two hours boat ride up and not too cold. I was however grateful to my merino wool base layer. There was near no conversation and a lot of contemplation of the surrounding beauty all accompanied by Pink Floyd’s Wish “You were here” followed by “The dark side of the moon” in all its enlightening madness and genius.

Time to land and to start the one hour hike to the Serrano Glacier.

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Curious vegetation

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Serrano Glacier, first sight.

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All in line

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Some people were fishing ice, I wonder????

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As near as it gets.

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Other I wish I had may camera moment.

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Scrambling for the photo spot.

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I know now what the ice was for.

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Wearing Scotland I got a slice of the action 🙂

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Maybe a tad cold for a swim.

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Farewell

And then there was lunch, a short boat ride across the top of the sound and into a nice little restaurant. I got seated next to two lovely people from the holly land.

We had food, a chat and a laugh and then we all got onto the Zodiac for the third and final part of the trip. Up the Rio Serrano, getting towards the bottom of Torres del Paine.

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New friends.

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Going up the river 1

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Going up the river 2

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Going up the river 3

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Going up the river 4

x

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Glaciar Tyndal

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Sitting at the front of the boat now.

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Rapids, will change boat.

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From above

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Old boats

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Torres del Paine getting closer.

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In all its glory, all the towers but one.

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Here goes the missing one.

Truly worth while day out and kickstarting the desire to come back and do all the hiking that I have no equipment and time to do now.

“There is no dark side of the moon really, as a matter of fact it’s all dark!”

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