Puerto Williams to Punta Arenas
Still very cold this morning with lots of snow on the ground. I considered buying some more suitable boots if we are to be stuck here until Monday but the Zapateria was closed. Unable to check mail as the free internet was again occupied.
On the off chance that things might have changed I dropped by the airline ticket office at 10:20. Surprisingly there was one seat to Punta Arenas today at 11:00 and one tomorrow. I immediately booked today with Aerovias DAP to Punta Arenas at Ch$49,774 (£50).
Dashed back to Pattys (Hostel Pusaki) to settle my bill. 4 nights C$62500 (£78) with Breakfast and an evening meal.
Two bank auditors staying at Hostel Pusaki were flying as well so I took a taxi with them.
En route to Puerto Williams airport.
I was very glad to be leaving. Winter is coming and I did not have the right gear for sustained cold weather.
Conditions were quite bleak as our 10 seat Beechcraft KingAir 100 boarded.
In heavy snow one could not see the end of the runway.
Once airborne we had a brief glimpse of Puerto Williams and once clear of the weather we were rewarded with spectacular views of the Beagle channel.
Cruising altitude was 8000m at about 180knots.
Approaching Pinta Arenas airport. Chilean fighter aircraft are housed in camouflaged hangars on the periphery.
It was a good flight. We landed at 12:30.
I took a transfer bus downtown (Ch$2,000) and with help from the tourist office on Plaza Munoz Gamero located a nearby hostel. En route I popped into into Hotel Condor de Plata at CH$25,000 (£30) per night and decided to stay. Nice to be somewhere warm again. I'm going to stay here for a few days and try to shake my cold.
On the off chance that things might have changed I dropped by the airline ticket office at 10:20. Surprisingly there was one seat to Punta Arenas today at 11:00 and one tomorrow. I immediately booked today with Aerovias DAP to Punta Arenas at Ch$49,774 (£50).
Dashed back to Pattys (Hostel Pusaki) to settle my bill. 4 nights C$62500 (£78) with Breakfast and an evening meal.
Two bank auditors staying at Hostel Pusaki were flying as well so I took a taxi with them.
En route to Puerto Williams airport.
I was very glad to be leaving. Winter is coming and I did not have the right gear for sustained cold weather.
Conditions were quite bleak as our 10 seat Beechcraft KingAir 100 boarded.
In heavy snow one could not see the end of the runway.
Once airborne we had a brief glimpse of Puerto Williams and once clear of the weather we were rewarded with spectacular views of the Beagle channel.
Cruising altitude was 8000m at about 180knots.
Approaching Pinta Arenas airport. Chilean fighter aircraft are housed in camouflaged hangars on the periphery.
It was a good flight. We landed at 12:30.
I took a transfer bus downtown (Ch$2,000) and with help from the tourist office on Plaza Munoz Gamero located a nearby hostel. En route I popped into into Hotel Condor de Plata at CH$25,000 (£30) per night and decided to stay. Nice to be somewhere warm again. I'm going to stay here for a few days and try to shake my cold.