Puerto Natales from the Evangelista

Late in the evening we boarded the Evangelista to sleep there for the night so we could leave at dawn the next day. The wild Patagonian sky didn't augur well for a friend's trek in the Torres del Paine National Park — in New Zealand, clouds like these mark a nor'wester and warn one to stay out of the mountains. But here the sky often looks like this and one learns not to pay too much attention to the forecasts. The trails in Torres del Paine are well trodden and well marked, and foot bridges provide safe river crossings in all but the worst weather.

Puerto Natales looked nondescript and uninspiring from the ferry, but I liked it; the town had grown on me. I stayed on deck until late, reluctant to turn away and accept I'd almost certainly never see Puerto Natales again.


[6 December 2011, Panasonic Lumix GH1, 14–45 mm at 14 mm, ISO 200, 1/25 at f8]

All content © 2011 Pete McGregor