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| Paine Grande |
Read about the first leg of the journey here
The next morning we started at sunrise and I learned that a Patagonia sunrise is comparable to an Arizona sunset. So many colors in the sky, and thanks to some rising wind, swirling clouds just on the horizon.
Our hike started over a new landscape of rocky hills and grasslands. On the way we got to catch a glimpse of the endangered Huemul deer as well as 5 foot tall stalks of bell shaped flowers that seemed out of place. Eventually, we see our destination, the Grey Glacier. At this point the winds are so strong you can barely stand up.
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| Grey Glacier |
The end of the trail stops at the edge of Lago Grey. Here we got on a boat and joined other passengers to view the glacier up close. This was my first experience seeing a glacier in real life and it is truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Giant spires of ice in incredibly brilliant blues, it's amazing.
AND, as an added bonus, the boat we were on handed out delicious Pisco Sours (a Chilean cocktail) WITH actual ice from the glacier.
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| double fisting Pisco Sours |
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| Pisco Sour with glacial ice |
After a long and choppy boat ride across the lake we were dropped off at the Grey Hotel which is small and cozy hotel with stunning views of the lake and Paine Grande. Maybe I was super exhausted, but I have never slept better.
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| view from the Grey Hotel |
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| super sweet room at the Grey Hotel |
The next way was our last in Chile. We left the Grey hotel and made a 7 hour drive to through the border of Chile and Argentina. On the way we ran into a huge heard of Guanacos. Is was a nice farewell to beautiful Chile.
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| There were about 100 Guanacos running around, but mike decided to take this artsy photos of some Guanacos on the hill top. |
Next stop, Argentina!...
