Hasta la proxima

We planned this trip on the basis that we are not likely to return to South America but we are already planning what else we want to see.

For now, however, it is time to leave Patagonia and head back to Santiago for a few days and then on to Atacama and the desert. It is hard to leave. Yesterday we went to the base of the Towers, the longest hike we have made and one that the guide book describes as "challenging". It was-but we felt thrilled to have met the challenge. Nothing has tasted as good as the hot soup, cheese sandwiches and cakes and green tea that we had on the top-spread out, as is the Explora style, on a green and white tablecloth. Today has been a beautiful day. We left at 8.30 to walk up to the waterfalls on the Rio Pingo in the west of the park which is well known for being wetter and we used our wet weather gear for the first time. However, by the time we reached the falls the sun was out and we had a magical time in a grotto of mosses listening to the water cascading over the rocks. So that is Patagonia for now. We have hundreds of photographs saved on disc so we will see what we can do in Santiago.