Puero Natales

We crossed into Chile without incicdent and descended into Puerto Natales. There are signs on the way in that inform you what there is to do.

Things to do in Puerto Natales

• Go to a Hotel
  
• Eat
  
• Play cards
  
• Use a telephone
  
• Go to Hospital
  
• Write a letter
  
• Get petrol
  
• Fly a plane
  
• Wash your hands
  

However, the metropolis is clearly too diverse to be described by one sign, so another one pops up a bit down the road:

More things to do in Puerto Natales

• Fish
  
• Go to church
  
• Go on a boat
  
• Eat fish and get drunk on cheap Chilean wine
  
• Ask a question
  
• Take a photograph (of bizarre street signs, presumably)
  
• See birds
  
• Go to a museum
  
• See a mountain
  

We are staying in a lovely hotel, just outside town and overlooking the bay. The weather isn't perfect (a bit chilly (geddit?) and windy) but the place is a wonder. It is so quiet and peaceful, we a sleeping brilliantly. The staff are amazingly helpful. Not only did they pick us up from the bus stop, they have helped us decide our itinerary (we are going to drive to the national park) and also helped track down "Chile Woman" who has been helping to organise the part of our trip once we get off the ferry. Wonderful.

Did I mention that we hired a car - OK - a truck. Or a truckio, as the locals don't call it. It's a monster.

Truckio

The first thing we did once we got the truck was to go 15km North to Puerto Prat, to take a picture of the town sign. For those with good eyesight, you actually get two for the price of one in the following picture (look right in the middle of the obvious one and see the back of the other one.)

Puerto Prat is not a big place.

Puerto Prat

Tomorrow we drive to Torres del Paine National Park.