When Kate and I were planning our South American, predominately Chile trip we first made our top five list of things to see and do. After scattering the wheres and whens on the calendar we took a look and best devised a plan to fill in the blanks later. After the logistical arrival in the relative geographic centre of the country, Santiago and the near neighbouring Valparaiso, all of our must see destinations lay to the south. The Lake Lands, a scheduled boat passage south through the archipelago and fiord lands, Patagonia and the famous National Park of Torres del Paine and its relative close compatriot in Argentina and then on the end of the American world, Tierra del Fuego. All most notable and possibly the most famous features on a travel Itinerary in Chile.
The immense size, mostly the length of the country did put some restrictions on our planning. Not through lack of desire, to the north of Santiago, stretched some over two thousand kilometres north, lay one of the most famous deserts on earth, the Atacama. One if not the driest on the planet. The resulting geography and area has made it home to one of the greatest concentrations of Space Observatories on earth. Similarly connected, the Planet Mars like terrain is a test bed for rovers and the like that one day may see Elon M. behind the wheel on his inter-planetary quest.
We have been planning and very much looking forward to travelling by all means of transit. Trying to experience as much of the country as possible, after realising the economic possibility of renting a car, we thought, without to much of a plan for a week we will try to touch on the dry and warmer north before heading to the lush and cooler south.
With the uncertainty of a schedule and realising that our time is limited, here we just start heading north with the expectations that we have no expectations. Our Hertz map clearly gives us some options but with unfamiliar roads and road conditions we will soon find out that the one kilometres travelled so easily, and perhaps to rapidly back home, do not equate the same as they will here.
So as not to drive mindlessly, with the aid of some travel information we have targeted Vicuna as our first destination. There we are told we will find the the southern most band of observatories, some making it of relative ease to visit. Who knows what on Earth, I mean what in deep space we will find.
Even with relative ease of travel, we are realising that we will fall short today of our initial target. As we are hoping for a good part of this week, having dragged our bare minimum camp gear with us, we’ve found on the map a Chilean National Park, Fay Jorge, that hopefully should serve our purpose.
But before we get too far, you cannot go sightseeing on an empty stomach.
As we travel the TransAmerica we are finding the various regions offering the local specialties roadside.
Here as the kilometres passed were endless number of people all briskly waving pompoms.
Among the goods are numerous meringue based goodies.
What we first found after turning off the famous Trans America highway, that we had been travelling north on, was that twenty eight kilometre sign post to the park will be turn into twenty seven kilometres of gravel, rather back country road.
Here, with the stanch proverb that this is what rent-a-cars are for, we will have plenty of time to observe Chile at twenty seven kilometres per hour.
Upon arrival, as we will also take note next day back at kilometre zero(we are assuming that we are missing little but by far the MAJORITY of people we interact with speak NO English. The sign being similar), the park is open only for day use, and with not much relevance to us, on some alternating day bases. Berlitz failure.
Besides my explainable camera incident, our experiences coupled with advice from locals we are feeling safe during our travels. A long way off the main track, with a nod from a passing Park Ranger, we are comfortable and duly rewarded with a little freedom camping.
When I up-date our tally of National Parks visited, this one will go under "very close".
When I up-date our tally of National Parks visited, this one will go under "very close".
Our Chilean home on the range.
\With a full compliment of supplies, including delicious local fruit, we are more than set for the night.
Chirimoya (Custard Apple)
Mark Twain claims this to be the:
"most delicious fruit known to man"
Kate claims this to be tonight:
"the most delicious fruit known to woman"
Buenos noches
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