Julie

Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful National Parks in South America. When we arrived in the Patagonian region of Chile we decided to do some hiking and camping here for 3 nights and 3 days and to do a well known trek called the W trek. Picture this. Snow capped mountains with glaciers. Many the waterfall descending from the mountains into turquise waters full of rapids, which descend into turqouise lakes with lots of green and leafed forests with some Autumnal leaves developing. Screensaver business. The hikes were challenging in places especially with winds that can build up speeds to 60km per hour. We walked about 40km in 3 days with tent, stove and packpacks to carry. One day was so challenging due to the wind. I will never forget it. Trying to take a step forward going against the wind but not making any progress. I must say that South America is great at keeping their parks unspoilt. Beautiful. I´m telling you, after walking for 12 hours up and down mountains and managing to get free beer on our descent from a Chilean tour guide, it was great to tuck into pasta and risotto ala Anne, Eimear and Julie. Satisfying business!

Chilean people have been amazing to us. Taxi drivers go out of their way and don´t run the metre if we get out at the bank for 5 minutes. Irish drivers should take a leaf out of their books I think. Chileans love to smile and are so so polite and are never pushy. Great for tourism. Its alot more expensive here than Argentina though.

In every town we go to, we see an Ó´Higgins´ street after Bernardo O´Higgins who was an illigitimate son of sligo born Alphonso O´Higgins. From 1810 to 1817, Bernardo rebelled against the Spanish for independence and in 1817with the help of Jose San Martin (whos tomb we saw in Buenos Aires) they won independence....