It is now towards the end of March and it is time to post again. It would be easier if I posted regularly but with the work we have to do time does not permit. So I am taking the time that I don't have to make this post. We hear from you and you remind us we have not posted. I will cover a couple of events that have been of interest to us and hopefully to you the reader. We had received permission to take a trip away from our mission. For our reader this may seem odd, that we pay all our own expenses and leave our family to serve this mission and then we have to have permission to take a little side trip. When we submitted our papers to serve we committed to spend 100% of our time in the service of the Lord. We knew we had some limits but great blessings come when we are obedient. When the permission came we were grateful and tried to make the most of the time. We chose to go to a unique place, Punta Arenas which is the south tip of Chile and South America. It is an area on the Straits of Magellan. This means we have been to the tip of South America and to Mount McKinley in Alaska on the north end. Almost the two extremes. On February 17th we left Santiago Airport for a 3 hour flight. Our flight left at 6am and we arrived at 9. After dropping off our luggage we walked around the city. Here we are at the plaza.

 

In the center of the plaza is this statue. It is a statue to those who fought for the liberty of this area. I am at the feet of a warrior. There is a legend about this warrior. If you touch the foot you will come back to Punta Arenas.

Here is a statue of honor to a group of pilgrims who protected the land from invaders. In the history of the area and Chile this land was very valuable. The straits were access to the other side of the world. It was a very valuable port. Many countries wanted the access. Chile finally exercised their might and took control. These pioneers represent the lives of those who protected the land.

 

The next day started our adventure. We went to a small boat launch and off we went to Isla de Magdalena. It is a penguin annual migration similar to salmon. Each year over 100,000 migrate here from Brazil to mate and then return. Here we are on the boat. 

 

Welcome to the island.

 

This is what we came to see. They are about 18 to 24 inches tall and really cute. When we were there the population had dwindled to about 100,000.

 

This is a picture of two of them singing.

 

When they come they burrow holes for their home and mating. The mother then is here for about 40 days of incubation. You can see the dirt flying. Inside is a penguin clearing out the hole.

 

 

You can see inside the hole from here.

 

 

Here are a group of them at the beach. Some are arriving from fishing for food, others are about to go in fishing for Dinner. Behind me is a hill covered with penguins.

 

 

We were on the island for about an hour and then off to the next stop. This is a seal refuge. It really smelled. You can see the seals laying around. In the front is a Sea Lion. They are a lot larger than the seals.

 

Here is another shot of the sea Lion.

 

We were lucky that day also. Here in the front is a large black animal. It is an Elephant seal. It is huge. We did not see it out of the water, but you can imagine how big it is.

 

 

That afternoon we had a guided tour of Punta Arenas. It is a city of 125,000 people. The economy is fishing, tourism, oil, gas, and farming. In the background you can see the southern part of the city.

 

 

An attraction for us was the Cemetary. It is very large an the mausoleums are huge. Here is a picture of the poor peoples location for burial. Because of Water levels it is all above ground.

 

 

Then there are rows and rows and rows of burial sites with these decoration trees. They are all pruned to be this shape. You can see the size of these bushes.

 

That evening we went to dinner at this restaurant for a wonderful meal.

 

This was the view from our table. I took the picture inside so the lights are the lights from inside. I is not something special. But think of this view for dinner and a great dinner.

 

The next day we were off again for a cruise to see two glaciers. Here we are boarding the boat. Yes it was cold. In Punta Arenas it is very windy continually. It makes it very difficult to grow much like trees. It is a dry arid area. It is quite amazing because 500 miles north of here is large farm land that is green green green. Much of the fruit and vegetables come from the south where it gets lots of rain, but here it is quite dry.

 

 

It was about a 2 hour boat ride up this river/lake. In the picture you can see the glacier we are going to.

 

This is an example of a boat that passed us. It is all enclosed. Our boat had a open deck around the enclosed seating area.

 

Check this out for a waterfall. This is runoff from the snows.

 

Here is the first glacier we went to. They told us that 10 years ago the glacier reached down to the water. It is receding.  

 

We are off again to the second glacier, but you can see the size of the first in the background. Yes it was cold.

 

We had to dock the boat and walk about a mile to the next Glacier.

 

Here we are overlooking the bay. On the other side of the trees is the Boat. Down below is ice.

 

This is the second Glacier. We walked all along the shore and you can see a point on the mountain. There is an observation area there. Look hard and you can see specs of people. It will give you perspective of the size.

 

While at the glalcier I tried my hand at balancing on a small iceberg.

 

 

We walked back to the boat and they took us to this ranch house for lunch/dinner.

 

They call it an Asado. It is like a barbeque. Here is lunch.

 

It is served as a Parillada. It has Chicken, Steak, and Ribs, and sausage stacked plenty high with a couple of potatoes. It is really good.

 

Here is a view to the mountains from the ranch house. It is beautiful but really cold and windy.

 

The next day we were off again to Torres de Paine. This is a large national park named after a explorer named Paine who found these rock formations that look like towers.  On the way we stopped at a cave that is 12,000 years old and housed a large animal named a Milodon.

 

 

Here we are at the entrance of the Cave. It is quite deep. I think it is about as deep as a football field.

 

Here is Bonnie hugging a replica of the Milodon.

 

Now off to the National Park. Here is a picture from the distance of the Towers. You cannot get to the tower by bus or car. Only backpackers can really get there. On the right side you can see the towers sticking up.

 

Here is the entrance to the Park.

 

We drove and stopped at some points to take pictures. We only could see about 1/4 of the park because of the size.

 

 

 

This picture was taken from the restaurant where we ate. A spectacular view.

 

As you can see the area is arid. There are lots of lakes from snow runoff. Here is a beautiful waterfall from the runoff.

 

I am several hundred yards from the lake. You can see the dots of people walking along a sand bar. This is an iceberg in the middle of the lake.  

 

At the end of the lake is another glacier. It is quite a ways away.  

 

 

 

Well that was our trip to Punta Arenas.

While I was a missionary in Chile 45 years ago it was a dream of mine to go there. Now we have and we are glad we had the opportunity.