After a lengthy but fairly comfortable bus ride across the border into Chile, and surviving the infamous chilean customs - they have a labrador that jumps into the baggage compartments of the bus and rummages around in there...i don't know why, but even if you've checked to make sure you have no illegal stuff in your backpack, you still stress like crazy when that dog sniffs around your bag!
After we crossed the border at Dorotea it was a short drive to Puerto Natales. We didn't have a place to stay yet when we got there, we knew of a hostel but didn't know how to get there...welcome to backpacking! Best thing to do...follow someone that looks like they know where they're going! Fortunately we met some Canadians who heading the same way, kristi actually gave some medical advice to the one girl who had some sort of insect bite...Canadians...
We eventually found our place, Erratic Rock hostel...ja when I first read it I also had to look twice! Cool place, the afrikaans word Herberg would best describe it...and we managed to score two bunk beds in a 5 man dorm...they also give a informational talk on the Torres Del Paine (tdp) hike which was just about to start so our timing was on the money.
Like most of the travelers in town we are doing the 5 day W trek in the park, you can do it two ways, the more comfortable, and much more expensive stay in cabins with restaurant food trek, or camp in a tent, cook your own food trek...since we're Africans there was only one real choice for us...and luckily there are lots of places to get all your camping gear...so from when the talk ended, half past 4 until about 20:00 we scurried around the icy town to get all the food and gear we need for our adventure...
We were quite worn out at the end, and after dropping everything off in our room and Kristi helping another guy out with some ache or pain (everybody was apparently talking about the pretty South African doctor in the hostel afterwards!) we decided to pop into the bar next to our 'herberg' and order a litre of beer and share a much deserved and delicious pizza!
We then went back to our room next door, tossed out all non-essentials and literally just squeezed everything we could fit into our backpacks for the hike...
We ended off the day chatting to a Canadian, a Frenchie and some Americans about traveling in South America...some very cool and experienced travelers, who have a very real and infectious passion for exploring the world and all its natural wonders!
After we crossed the border at Dorotea it was a short drive to Puerto Natales. We didn't have a place to stay yet when we got there, we knew of a hostel but didn't know how to get there...welcome to backpacking! Best thing to do...follow someone that looks like they know where they're going! Fortunately we met some Canadians who heading the same way, kristi actually gave some medical advice to the one girl who had some sort of insect bite...Canadians...
 |
| Where the streets have no name |
Like most of the travelers in town we are doing the 5 day W trek in the park, you can do it two ways, the more comfortable, and much more expensive stay in cabins with restaurant food trek, or camp in a tent, cook your own food trek...since we're Africans there was only one real choice for us...and luckily there are lots of places to get all your camping gear...so from when the talk ended, half past 4 until about 20:00 we scurried around the icy town to get all the food and gear we need for our adventure...
We were quite worn out at the end, and after dropping everything off in our room and Kristi helping another guy out with some ache or pain (everybody was apparently talking about the pretty South African doctor in the hostel afterwards!) we decided to pop into the bar next to our 'herberg' and order a litre of beer and share a much deserved and delicious pizza!
We then went back to our room next door, tossed out all non-essentials and literally just squeezed everything we could fit into our backpacks for the hike...
 |
| "10 pounds of sh#t in a 5 pound bag" |
No comments:
Post a Comment