The Andes are beautiful. They run almost through the entire
American South, making a natural border between Argentina and Chile. To the
South of South America is Patagonia. A magical region encompassing the majestic
Andes, where the foot hills are full of pastures to the North and Glaciers
cover most of the south. I have heard stories about Patagonia, have touched
only the Northern and Southern extremes of this region. The more the Patagonian
air goes into my lungs, the more my mind wanders in its interiors.
I have seen the Glaciers in Antarctica and I have walked the
green pastures in the foothills of the Himalayas. Somehow I feel Patagonia is
an amalgamation of the two. I have eaten with people in Buenos Aires and had a
drink or two with my guide in Santiago. But, somehow I feel the Southern Region
of Chile and Argentina doesn’t belong to any country. It is just Patagonia!
Every time I travel to this continent I see the extremes it
has to be felt. I love the feel of cold on my skin more than sweat and I am
waiting for Patagonia to grow on me.
There are no people to be seen for kilometers together they
say. No sound to be heard, other than the river making its way to either side
of the Andes, to the Pacific in Chile or the Atlantic in Argentina. The odd
ranch with horses running wild or the Alpaca sheep feeding on the grass bed
which looks like its been moved over just yesterday. These scenes I can only
imagine and as I do the feeling only grows. The feeling to get lost and stay
that way for some time, till maybe I get found by a cracking glacier. Do you
know the noise that it makes ?
On a day trip in the Northern Patagonia in Argentina, my
guide told the people to get down from the coach and stay calm for a moment. To
feel the nature she said. They all got down with a camera! I saw a soul however
drifting in the distance, and I knew he felt it. Sometimes I feel happy when my
people understand what I mean to show. It is beautiful when that moment comes,
the moment of connection.
It is distant and you know it exists, but you cant work it
out. To connect with nature comes naturally and sometimes there is no guarantee
that it comes at all.
The only thing that I can do is spend good amount of time in
it.
In my last 20 days of travel in South America I only
remember 2 -3 distinct moments. I remember a lot of scenes, but moments only
few. Sometimes a whole tour goes by and the moment never comes. I know it wont
happen in Patagonia though.
I hope finally when I do walk in Patagonia’s vast interiors,
I will have few scenes to remember but more moments to feel!
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