Patagonia, Chile

Spending time in the Patagonia region of Chile last winter was pretty spectacular! We stayed at Los Torres Hotel in Torres Del Paine National Park. There were guanacos, pumas, flamingos, armadillos, and other wild life everywhere you turned. One day we hiked 13 miles in the Andes mountains. The trail was long, but rewarding; the beautiful scenery made it all worth while. Plus, I met a girl close to my age that I spent the day with. Since she was from Manchester, England, we talked about our different schools and surroundings. (She couldn't believe we actually had mascots.) Another day, we went horseback riding through a river and around a lake. Riding through a river, and relying on your horse so much really made your heart thump. Some of the horses would slide a little bit on an extremely steep hill. My fists would clench up as I rooted for the horse to make it down safely. As the lake glistened, the horses galloped to make sure that they were caught up with the other horses. One would gallop, then another, and soon all the horses would be galloping! We took a boat ride to see glaciers. Seeing a glacier up close for the first time makes you feel very small. On the way there the rocking of the boat put me to sleep like a baby in a cradle. Between the fluid motion of the water and the comfy seats, I was put out. When I woke up, we were right near the glacier. The glacier looked jagged and freezing. I was freezing and I wasn't even on the glacier! On New Year's Eve, our resort held a huge party. When it hit midnight men riding on horses holding torches rode out and lit up a flaming sign that read Hotel Las Torres 2017. It had to be one of the best New Year's I have ever had. Overall, the scenery in Patagonia was remarkable. Between the mountains, trees, waterfalls, etc., it made the perfect background for pictures. I am glad to say that I have been to Patagonia, Chile!

~ GPF