Patagonia, the most magical place on earth.

Alright, I just got back on Sunday from the best and most adventurous vacation I have EVER been on...we had a 5 day break before choosing classes/attending classes started, so a group of us decided to take advantage of the most free time we'll have for the rest of this trip and take a plane down to Patagonia and fit in as much touring as we could during the long weekend.  Needless to say, it was a great start to my time down here in Chile.

Patagonia is the southernmost part of Chile/Argentina...it's VERY cold, and if you've never heard of it, google it...it's full of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen.

On Wednesday night, Leif picked me up and we took a bus and metro to meet Kate at the stop where we pick up the buses to the airport.  We all boarded the bus with our huge backpacking backpacks and other luggage we needed and awkwardly entered the airport.  Our flight was painless, except for the fact that I get nervous on airplanes...like to the extreme.  I sat in between Kate and Leif (poor guys) and they held my hand like I timidly requested while we were taking off.  Leif was grossed out that my palms were sweating so much because I was nervous, and would only put his hand on top of mine to avoid the sweaty mess.  What a great friend :) Hahaha oh jokes.

We arrived in the Punta Arenas airport and it was FREEZING.  We grabbed our luggage and took a transfer to our hostel.  Sam, Beth, and Matt, who arrived to Patagonia earlier that day, called us and told us to meet them at a local bar.  We dropp

ed our stuff off at the hotel and then met them at this po-dunk amazingly chilean bar where people were salsa dancing and having tons of fun.  The girls immediately found chilean hombres to dance with and learn the moves, and Leif and I stayed on purse control.  

We went back to the hostel, where we all shared this big room with six beds.  The next morning, we woke up and went out into the tiny town of Punta Arenas, found some food, explored, and then got bundled up to go on the PENGUIN TOUR!  

We took a 2 hour boat ride to Isla Magdalena, which is basically a freezing island filled with penguins!  We got off the b

oat and we explored the island for an hour.  We were able to get so close to the penguins, and poor Leif even got bitten by one!

It was so cute seeing the thousands of penguins just waddling around on the island...they sure do have a different life. I have a new appreciation for those little black and white guys :)

The next day we woke up early to take a 4 hour bus ride to Puerto Natales, so we could take a 2 hour bus ride to Torres del Paine.  We basically spent our bus rides sleeping and eating because we were already exhausted from the trip, and the hard part hadn't even begun!  Because we didn't have enough time to camp, and we planned the trip last minute, we ended up having to book a room at the most expensive hotel in all of Patagonia, Hotel Torres.  It was absolutely ridiculous...we all shared a triple room, with two people to a bed.  

Me in front of la cordillera with the rainbow before our beautiful hike up Torres del Paine:)

Our only option for dinner was the resort's expensive and super fancy restaurant, so we were very out of place in our dirty sneakers and sweats eating alongside the world's most wealthiest and 'super refined' travelers.  We got a few looks, but the waiters loved us.  I think they were excited with the opportunity to finally talk with people under the age of 60.  We then went back, showered, and got ready for bed as we had a huge day ahead of us.  Kate and I were sleeping buddies, and believe it or not, we got a good night's rest.

We woke up bright and early at 6am, because we had to start our hike by 6:45.  The nature/mountains/lakes/waterfalls were absolutely amazingly beautiful, and it had rained throughout the entire night, so there were a couple of majestic rainbows.  The hike started out fun, but we were trying to go at a fast past in order to be back by 1:30.  It normally takes people 8 hours total to hike the Torres del Paine, but we had to do it in under 5 hours.  It didn't take long for us to get completely exhausted. The wind picked up right as we were at the top of a cliff, and Kate and I feared for our lives because the trail was so narrow and steep.  The hike was the most difficult thing I have ever done in my entire life, but I'm glad I did it.  We felt so accomplished...it was definitely not for the feeble-hikers.  It's been 3 days since the hike and we're all still immensely sore.  It really bonded our group, and it was the most memorable experience of my life. 

That night after catching the 6 hour bus ride back to Punta Arenas, we got ready, went out for Beth's birthday dinner, and then went out to a bar.  It was a fun night, but ended very early due to our immense fatigue, or deliriumS as Leif put it.

We woke up Sunday morning and hopped on a plane back to good 'ol Santiago, and here I am! 

Sorry the post was so long...and I promise more updates soon!  Blogger is being a buttface and  I am having a hard time uploading pictures, so I will soon I promise!

Penguin love,

Jennifer