Patagonia really surprised me. I traveled with my friend from Brazil, and we flew to Santiago, then down to Punta Arenas, a quiet city at the bottom of Chile. When it was time to go into Patagonia, we made our way to Torres del Paine (a national park). The wind was unbelievably strong, with some of the hardest wind I've ever experienced! It was certainly nice and chilly... I even saw snow while hiking! The mountains looked unreal, and the lakes had some of the bluest water I’ve ever seen in my life. Here's a fun fact: despite being super cold, Patagonia is currently in spring and going into summer since it is located in the southern hemisphere! I enjoyed seeing the landscape in seasonal transition.
I saw guanacos (kind of like llamas), cowboys riding horses and dogs. The food was amazing, too. I tried lamb, a traditional Chilean stew, and a dish made with corn. Even breakfast was really yummy, featuring eggs cooked with tomatoes that tasted super fresh after being out all morning in the cold.
Seeing the famous Torres appear through the clouds made me feel small in a good way. You experience nature down there is on another level.
