Hotel Remota Puerto Natales

... making a withdrawal of 250 000! Pity thats only 500 USD but let me tell you it doesnt go very far! Flip this place is E.X.P.E.N.S.I.V.E!! Like for like compared to Argentina, I'd say things cost not far from double. Chile is going to hurt the budget...a lot. <br><br>Anyway, in this case a delay was quite cool because the famous Torres del Paine (Towers of Pain, massive granite mountains) are very nearby ...

... the next site. Without a navigational map and only the park entrance guide to a resource, what we assumed to be a 6 hour 19km walk over flat land turned into a 8 hour 25 km hike over gusty mountains, muddy fields and a stinky swamp. Our already blistered feet and lack of direction led us off the path and into 30 minute detour through a sticky swamp which soaked our (non waterproof) clothes, socks and shoes and dampened our already drowning spirits. Night was about to ...

... hike that was relatively flat through a forest. The winds were crazy and if I didn't have my hiking poles then I'm sure that I would have been knocked over like other people were. Overall, I ended up hiking about 70+ miles in 7.5 days with my backpack full of tent gear, food, stove, sleeping bag, etc. Each day the pack got lighter which was a great thing. I met lots of super cool ...

... qui se trouve au coin de rue suivant. Ces hostels sont en fait des logements chez l'habitant et sont fort convenables pour un prix très démocratique. Nous revenons ensuite à l'hostel Nancy où il est possible de louer du matériel de randonnée. Il nous faut des sacs de couchage et des matelas, un tente, un réchaud, 2 tasses, 2 gamelles et des couverts pour notre excursion de 4 jours dans le parc Torres Del Paine. La propriétaire de l'hostel ...

... impressive actually, but the most memorable thing is that 30 years after closing down the building keep a trace of their original smell. Around the fat processing area or the tannery it was quite nauseating... It was raining as I came out of it, and I didn't feel like walking back another hour in the rain and the wind, so I took out the good old thumb. And it's a charming grandmother, absolutely adorable, who drove me back to Puerto Natales, with mandatory chatting. :)

... absolutely gorgeous) as well as a Formula One photographer. Of course we though he was taking the p**s until he pulls out his iPhone and shows us the evidence. Myself and Jesse didn´t say another word until the battery went dead on the phone. I have met some cool people on the trip but this topped it all. Delighted with ourselves we landed back in town - now if only we could get some of those girls´ phone numbers. With time running out to Carnival, I have to skip ...

... started at the same time as us. Next day it was back down the valley and on to Campo Italiano. Although a lot of the stretches we were walking were relatively short they were up and down and up and down, this fairly dragged it out. Once at the camp we were in a great position to explore the French valley the next day. We got up before sunrise again in the vain attempt at catching some stunning views. It was a little better this time but still not the postcard ...

... and hungry and that's why we all decided to make the 45 minute trek up to the Torres del Paine Mirador, or lookout site. We decided to keep warm for another 2 hours then have some dinner. All of us made the assent except for Mick who has blisters and wanted to wait till the morning. The original plan was for all 9 of us to get up before sun rise and see the sun hit the torres like all the postcards, but Teresa and I warned Mick that we were not going to get out ...

... of those Calafate and Pale Ale beers! <br><br>It certainly wasn't cheap, but it was worth it, we'd walked the famous "W", with very advantageous weather and had met some great people along the way. <br><br> <br><br>After a relaxing couple of hours our minds turned towards the journey home and ...

It's always horrible waking up the day after your birthday; you're another year older and you won't receive any cards, presents or meals today :( <br><br>It was perhaps fitting then that we had another early start, in order to get on our 8am bus for Puerto Natales, the gateway to the Torres del Paine National Park. <br><br>It was important that we got to the new place tonight, but the MOST important thing happening today was CLEARLY Liverpool's 2nd leg ...