As I sit here on the bus to the Punta Arenas airport, typing this post into the notes on my phone, I can’t wipe the huge stupid grin off of my face. I’ve just had one of those weekends that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. (I’m also listening to a really awesome oldies cover playlist- so I’m feeling extra emotional.)
I came all the way down to Patagonia with my roomie, Kaitlyn, to retrieve her work visa- a really long and complicated story for another day. Long story short- instead of waiting for almost half-a-year to get her visa sent up north, she found a cheap flight down and decided to just go and get it.
Well, Southern Chile just happens to be my happy place. So, even if I had just been all the way down to Patagonia just a few months before, I couldn’t resist tagging along. And so we booked our flights, packed our bags and went.
Everyone said we were crazy. Making the trip all the way down to the end of the Earth for only 2 days. A 4-hour flight, 3-hour bus ride and 2-hour drive, and all for an 8-hour hike in a park that we’d both already done …. twice … HUH?!
But as we neared Torres del Paine National Park, the sun rising over the mountains behind us, one cloud after another lighting up our path in a pale shade of neon pink- I knew, if only for this moment, the whole trip down was worth it.
Visiting a place like Patagonia changes you. It confuses you and makes you think clearly all at once. You instantly realize how incredible life can be. How small we all are in the grand scheme of things. You know afterward that if you are open to beauty and seek it without holding back, that you’ll never stop being amazed.
Places like Patagonia ignite your soul.
I’d been getting way too caught up in life lately. Taking too many things too seriously, stressing myself out and not thinking anything I was doing was enough. Living abroad isn’t always easy. I was feeling lonely and homesick, worn out and on the verge of a major breakdown.
Coming down to Patagonia, if only for these 2 short days reminded me that none of those superficial day-to-day problems really matter. I remembered what it was like to truly disconnect, embrace my surroundings and just let go.
I only have this one life to live. It may be short, but it will be beautiful. I plan to do, see and facilitate amazing things.
Patagonia broke me down, turned me inside out and made me reevaluate. It ruined me.
And then it saved me.
Thinking about heading to Patagonia yourself? Here’s why you should motorhome Chile!
Welcome to Wanderful Wednesdays!
Consider yourself a wanderer?! Well then, this Blog Hop is for you!
Meet your hosts: ME, Lauren of Lauren on Location, Van of Snow in Tromso, Isabel of The Sunny Side of This and Marcella of What a Wonderful World.
Here on Wanderful Wednesday we hope to promote an open and supportive community for like-minded bloggers- expats, travelers and all kinds of wanderers!
The linkup will take place every Wednesday at 8AM GMT.
Wanderful Wednesday Guidelines:
- Link up a wanderful travel related post below! One per blogger per week please!
- Spread the LOVE! Blog Hops are all about hopping around & getting to know others within the community! At the very least please try to comment on one other post before you go!
- Let’s get Social! Really liked a post you read? Don’t be shy! Share your favorites on Social Media! You can use the hashtag: #wanderfulwednesday
- Don’t forget to grab the button and link back to your wanderful hosts! Help us spread the word and let’s get others involved!
You can also pin your post to our new Pinterest Board! Let me know if you’d like the invite.
Happy Hopping Friends!! 😀
With all your talk of Patagonia you have certainly convinced me to make it down there. #wanderfulwednesday
You HAVE to go Allison! You would absolutely fall in love 😀
It definitely sounds wonderful.
Absolutely beautiful!! I can see why you love it so much and I can imagine you sitting in the backseat wiggling back and forth, left to right taking pictures from every angle haha #WanderfulWednesday
You literally just described what I was doing perfectly! Hahaha … Our friend actually pulled over a few times so I could get a better shot because he saw me struggling 😀
This is EXACTLY the kind of feeling I’d get staring at the mountains in the Arctic! It makes you feel so humbled and makes you realize that none of that everyday bs is really important in the grand scheme of things. I love love love your Patagonia pictures and I’m dying to visit. So glad you went and got to catch a breath 🙂
Me too Van! Isn’t it such an incredible feeling! Just being surrounded by beauty. Really makes you think and helps you reflect. So thankful for places like Patagonia. And honestly following your blog and Instagram has put the Arctic on my radar and it never was before! Dying to get up there now! 😀
Patagonia is always good for the soul, I can never get enough!! 🙂 I’m pretty sure I think of it everyday, and haha, I’ve been to Patagonia three times this year too (just to different parts), it’s hit me hard and I can’t stop! 🙂 I’m glad you are feeling better for it! Love xxx
I think of it everyday too! I actually made the towers in Torres del Paine the background of my phone this time around so every day I’m reminded of how I felt there! Definitely good for the soul! Missing you Marcella xx
How cool – Patagonia features in the blog post I added to this week’s link up! I’ve always dreamed of visiting Torres del Paine. I really hope one day it becomes a reality!
Oh cool! I’ll check it out now! And I know you’ll make it there one day! And it will be more than worth it 😀
I would looove to visit Patagonia someday. Places that affect the soul like that are places that need to be visited. And I’m obsessed with those pink clouds!
Exactly- need to be visited and experienced. The post you put up this week is one of those places as well! Drooling over that scenery!
Can I please go there now?! I want Patagonia to change me!!
Well if you go one today- it surely will 😀
just stunning. I think that could be my happy place too!
I think Patagonia could be most people’s happy place. Objectively stunning 😛
OMW! I can’t believe you went there TWICE! You are so lucky. Patagonia is somewhere I have always wanted to go. Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
Even though it’s still quite the trip, thankfully it’s not TOO far from Santiago. I plan to take advantage as much as possible while I’m here 😀
So beautiful! So deep down inspriartional! Thanks for sharing Lauren….the post and Patagonia, too. (your tagalong Dad….trip #2)
hehe Hi DAD! 😀
wow sounds like such a magical place! 🙂 the best places really make you think about your life, don’t they?
Very much agree! It’s those kinds of trips that really make you think!
Beautiful photos. They remind me a lot of the McKenzie country on New Zealand’s South Island. I hope to make it to Patagonia within the year.
Absolutely love your adventure spirits and not giving a damn about what other people say. These trips are so necessary for any wanderlust person and I can only imagine that it must have been an absolute pleasure to spend these hours hiking in Patagonia. Xx
I haven’t been to Patagonia yet, but your photos make me want to go there so badly :))
Geez how stunning! So great that you are able to return to somewhere that gives you that inner peace feeling 🙂