The grass of the Patagonian Steppes is low and the cattle have specially suited teeth to bite into it. Inside the confines of the bus, you do not understand the speed of wind that so famously shapes the landscape of Patagonia. There are no trees swaying and the grass stays put. Just 5 kms outside Calafate the wind starts to gather, and the extent of it we understood only after getting down to get some pictures of the Argentinian Gaucho (cowboy).
Sheep farming is big in Patagonia and the Gaucho on horseback collecting his flock together with a bunch of dogs is a sight which we did not want to miss. I was the first one to get down of the bus and as I did, I got the first greeting of the Patagonian wind. Over the next 3 days I realized that it was about to get crazier but that’s for later.
The border post especially is interesting with the winds and the odd settlement with some houses and a very well stocked (also expensive) restaurant. As soon as you enter Chile, and this is just my impression, the smiles get better. The owner of the restaurant was very keen to show me his little hotel and as was his restaurant his hotel too was well done and I am sure would be matching the price stay wise. The wind was already a notch up from our last stop in Argentina and I was told that there is a way of opening the doors to the car. One door at a time or else you might never be able to shut them.
The town of Puerto Natales is just 60 kms from the border. The sea is so different than any other water body. Even in the form of a strait that faces Puerto Natales, the sea still makes for a grand introduction, and this is not any sea, it is the Pacific Ocean!
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| The very well stocked restaurant on the not so visited border. |
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| If only I could show the wind here.. |
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