Hikes, Penguins and 20 Seater Planes

Punta Arenas is nice town on the water, but a bit too touristy with crazy people like ourselves all around so luckily we were able to find a hike above the town. It would be considered a short jaunt for all you avid cascade climbers, but I must admit we didn´t have to work as hard to find beauty. We also spotted very different South American birds and mysterious tracks in the mud....possibly baby puma tracks according to the trail worker. Who knows.

So I was going to find a picture of Bloom County`s Opus the Penguin to start this portion of the blog , but I couldn´t find one that adequatley describes my love for the next sentence.

Thousands upon thousands of penguins!

Wow. We took a ferry from Punta Arenas to the Magellana Isalnd, where there are 70 thousand penguins raising their young. Both Annika and I thought we might be lucky if we saw a couple, because no one says how many Penguions you are going to see untill you get there. I was seriously stunned. You get off the boat and walk on a designated trail to a light house, while the wind is whipping around and penguins ( who are not shy creatures) walk down the middle of the trail and get inches away from personas. They have even been known to bite as the picture below portrays...

Haha. I know its terrbile, but Annika was bit by a ruthless penguin. And the best part was I got it on film. The sacrifce was worth it! I doubt she will get Bird Flu or anything.

We have lots of pictures of penguins.

So we were able to book a flight from Punta Arenas to the absolute end of the world as we know it, Puerto Williams. I was not so excited about the 20 seater prop plane, but decided it would be worth it to say I have been to the southern most city on the planet.

I knew Annika would be worried about the small plane especially since we were so close the to the prop. But I kept reminding her that if the prop came loose and sliced through the cabin, which it would enter in our window, she wouldn´t feel a thing.

Not much of a city, but rather a village. We both agree it was the most beautiful place on earth with the sea at the bottom of Los Dientes peaks. Hungry when we landed we thought we might go get some food at a restaurant in town, but no such luck with no restaurants to be found and everyone on ciesta. We somehow found ourselves eating tuna and crackers on the side of the road and started on an afternoon hike. Wow. Amazing.

A little bit windy up top...

We have now made it to Puerto Natales and are looking forward to hiking in the Torres del Paine National Park for the next few days.