The best mistake I have ever made...

Advantages: The awe-striking landscapes, the kindness of the people, the food...
Disadvantages: None that I have experinced personally

...Patagonia is divided into Argentinean Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia. This review is about Argentinean Patagonia. I could have said this without repeating the word "Patagonia" so much, but you have no idea how sweet this name sounds on my tongue and my mind. Patagonia! Patagonia Patagonia Patagonia. Okay, enough! The origin of the name "Patagonia" is not very clear. Some say it was derived from the Tehuelche's (natives of the region) moccasins' size. The Tehuelches were (they have now been eradicated) very tall and it is said that the shoes (moccasins) they wore made their feet appear even larger, hence, some assume, Magellan's crew derived the word "Patagonia" from the Spanish word "pata", meaning "foot" (although the Spanish word for human feet is "pie", whilst the word for animal feet or paws is "pata", but...

Librelola 12.08.2005 (12.10.2005) · Read review
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Review of Patagonia

Patagonia calling again...

Advantages: An out of this world experience.
Disadvantages: It's a bit far but most certainly worth it.

...The Torres del Paine National Park lies to the extreme south of Chile, in the Chilean Patagonia. To be precise, in the XII Región of Magellan and Chilean Antarctica (Chile is divided into 12 regions). The province is known as "Ultima Esperanza" (Last Hope). Hope is not a word I would use. Reality is more like it. Hopeful Reality. Or perhaps Realistic Hope. I am afraid Patagonia has stolen my senses, and senses I did not have a lot. So do forgive me if I seem to lose my mind. I left it somewhere there, wandering the Patagonian plains, lakes, forests and mountains. It is an area roughly 242,242 hectares large and was officially declared a National Park in 1975, and from this date to today, has been administrated by the National Forestry Service of Chile (Conaf). On the 28th of April 1978, the United Nations recognised it as...

Librelola 24.08.2005 · Read review
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Review of Parque Nacional Torres del Paine

Polishing the Best Mistake I Have Ever Made!

Advantages: Spacious, awe-inspiring, peaceful expanses, friendly people.. Delicious food and wine!
Disadvantages: Far but well worth it

...This is actually a "reviewed" version of my Patagonia review, but I couldn't post it again under "Patagonia", so I chose this category instead! ********************************************************************** Patagonia is divided into Argentinean Patagonia and Chilean Patagonia. This review is about Argentinean Patagonia. I could have said this without repeating the word "Patagonia" so much, but you have no idea how sweet this name sounds on my tongue and my mind. Patagonia! Patagonia Patagonia Patagonia. Okay, enough! The origin of the name "Patagonia" is not very clear. Some say it was derived from the Tehuelche's (natives of the region) moccasins' size. The Tehuelches were (they have now been eradicated) very tall and it is said that the shoes (moccasins) they wore made their feet appear even larger...

Librelola 12.10.2005 · Read review
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Review of Punta Tombo, Puerto Madryn, Province of Chubut, Patagonia

Perfect Chilean Patagonia...

Advantages: Stunning scenery and enough adventure to last a lifetime
Disadvantages: Huge distances and the developing transport system

...As a volunteer English teacher in the very depths of Patgonia here I managed to explore the region fully, experiencing the culture and seeing the lives that enfolded before me each day. It was only by spending so long in this beautiful region that I fully discovered what Chilean Patagonia, let alone the rest of Chile, was about. As it is such a huge country that I can only begin to describe the beauty of this part of the country and what amazing things there are to do here. I start my review with Coyhaique, the capital of the XI Region, about half way from between Santiago and the end of the world, Tierra del Fuego... Coyhaique: this town, of population 40,000, is a bustling centre of all activities in the XI Region. With easy access from Santiago Airport to Balmaceda Airport (1 hour drive - taxi buses are cheap and easy to find in...

Piers85 15.04.2005 · Read review
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Review of General: Chile

Bewitched by an Icy Giant!

Advantages: A Unique Experience
Disadvantages: None

...was founded in 1937 and declared a Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1981, the Glaciar Perito Moreno is one of Argentina's most famous attractions and considered by some as the 8th wonder of the world. I subscribe to this point of view! You may have seen images of it sprawled on advertisements for travel to Patagonia. The Glaciers National Park is located in the Province of Santa Cruz in Argentinean Patagonia and covers an area of more than 600,000 hectares (1,482,000 acres). Discovered in 1879 by the Chilean Army Officer Juan Rogers, the glacier was renamed (not sure what it was called to begin with) Perito Moreno in 1899, in honour of the passionate and relentless Argentinean Naturalist and Explorer Francisco Pascacio Moreno, nicknamed Perito (1852-1919). Dr. Francisco P. Moreno (Honoris Causa) was the first Argentinean to...

Librelola 18.01.2006 (19.02.2006) · Read review
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Review of Perito Moreno Glacier, El Calafate, Province of Santa Cruz, Patagonia

from santiago to patagonia

Advantages: stunning scenery and wildlife,unspoilt,great ice cream,chocolate,beef,fish,beer,fruit,and wine (all home produced and cheap by european standards).
Disadvantages: long flying time,still not a cheap destination but good value.

...Chile is one of the best countries i have ever visited aswell and i too am very widely travelled.you must be a lover of the great outdoors and adventure though,to experience chile at its best.i can only speak for the southern part of chile that is santiago down to punta arenas,patagonia.in chile due to the thinness of the country and also due to the glaciation that still is found down south,flying is the best way around the country.one of the national carriers is lanchile (www.lanchile.com surprisingly!) and on their website you can obtain last minute offers or book super apex fares within chile-this is what i did.if i had have booked with lanchile offices in gatwick,surrey or one of the uks travel agencies my flight within chile would have cost about double what it did which is crazy!the reason is,lanchile's website is based...

theothegreek 12.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of General: Chile

Historias Minimas (minimal stories)

Advantages: Well shot, developed and novel film
Disadvantages: For some the pace may be slow, subtitles

...Historias Minimas (minimal stories) is a beautiful film from 2003 set in Argentinean Patagonia that has been somewhat overlooked in the face of popular Spanish language films released in the past decade. The story follows 3 people on their separate but interweaving trips to San Julian the regional capital from their rural villages, but if that premise sounds a little overused then it isn't fair to describe the film as such. Essentially this is a film about nothing and also about everything. Three people travel to San Julian for very different but basically mundane reasons; however, the concentration on the everyday ups and downs and conversations between the most ordinary of people is far more effective at illuminating humanity than most dramatic films where large and life-changing events take place. Here the little ways in which people...

flyingllamas 22.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Historias Minimas (Subtitled) (DVD)

Arrowtown: Small NZ town taken over by sweet shops and hikers.

Advantages: Quiet, peaceful, great chocolate
Disadvantages: Very small, a bit dull

...Arrowtown is a very small town of about 2000 people in South New Zealand about 21 miles from the much larger Queenstown. It used to be a mining town 150 years ago, but the gold ran out many years ago and now tourism is the new source of gold for the town. Unusually for this area (which is now mainly famous for much more modern extreme sports industry), the town has a historic feel to it, with some very picturesque buildings. When we passed through en route to Queenstown, we were amazed that such a small town could have such a large and varied shopping street. One shop in particular made the visit entirely worthwhile - a chocolatier called Patagonia Chocolates. They have some unusual (and extremely strong) flavours to pick from - our two favourites were the ginger and the chilli flavours - though be warned that these stronger flavours...

beckyXX 15.10.2009 · Read review
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Review of Arrowtown, Otago

Lubricant for your ears...

Advantages: Excellent tracks, pretty unique sound, fun and funky
Disadvantages: None really

...I got into Lemon Jelly courtesy of my best mate who got me some Patagonia Tour concert tickets for Xmas in 2002 (if you've never been to a Lemon Jelly concert - highly recommended) and I never realised just how well known their music was. From "Jamie's Kitchen" to the "Hello Moto" mobile ad and laterly Sky adverts, they really do pump out a lot of music and if you listen to this album you'll understand why. "What Do You Do In The Bath?" kicks off the album. It's a kind of slightly dark laid back track and quite atmospheric - definitely one for playing with candles and your rubber ducky in the bath. This was also the tune on the Motorola advert. "Nervous Tension" eases you into an even more laid back state. Nice piano breaks and guitar riffs blend with a vocal track that tells you how to relax and relieve the title, just in case...

ayanayuk 17.05.2004 · Read review
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Review of Lemon Jelly KY - Lemon Jelly

Lost Horizons have been found!

Advantages: Everything in the World!
Disadvantages: Not enough tracks

...Lost Horizons is an amazing collection of EPs put together to create this superb album by the the genious group that is Lemon Jelly. It's their second album after KY and released way back 2002. It's a mix of instrumental sounds and samples designed to give you a relaxed and mellow easy listening experience. It has an organic feel, along with the album cover and delivers some outstanding and experimental music that will lift you into new horizons. Tracklisting 1 - Elements 2 - Space Walk 3 - Ramblin' Man 4 - Return to Patagonia 5 - Nice Weather for Ducks 6 - Experiment No. 6 7 - Closer 8 - The Curse of Ka'Zar Bonus track - Pushy Elements opens the album and really gives you a good feel of what the album is going to be like. It features some good vocals by John Standing and a real sense of well being...

steve0898 29.08.2007 (01.10.2007) · Read review
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Review of Lost Horizons - Lemon Jelly