Brrrr-illiant! A Freezing Good Time.
A Chilly Comedy: My Frozen Hour on the Cruz del Sur. I thought I was prepared for the cold. I mean, I’ve lived through a Chicago winter. But nothing could have prepared me for the bone-chilling adventure that awaited me on the Cruz del Sur. As I boarded the boat, I felt a gust of wind so strong it threatened to rip my face off. I swear, I saw a penguin waddle by, chuckling at my feeble human attempts to stay warm. I’d barely managed to snap a few photos of the towering ice wall, a frozen behemoth rising 74 meters (243 feet) above the water’s surface, before my fingers turned into popsicles. The mountains, Cerro Moreno (1,640 meters/5,381 feet) and Cerro Cervantes (2,330 meters/7,644 feet), looked down on me with icy disdain. I imagined them whispering, “Poor human, so unprepared for the wrath of Patagonia.” I tried to ignore their icy judgment and focus on the stunning scenery. I bundled up in every layer of clothing I had, but it was like wearing tissue paper. I longed for a cold drink, a Pisco Sour perhaps, but alas, there was no bar on this frozen vessel. I was stuck shivering, dreaming of tropical beaches and piña coladas. As we returned to Puerto Bandera, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I had survived the icy onslaught of Patagonia. I had faced the elements and emerged victorious, albeit slightly frostbitten. And as I warmed up by the fire, I knew I would never forget this unforgettable, and incredibly cold, adventure.