- Morning return to Punta Arenas to return the rental car
- Take care of organizational matters including withdrawals and exchanges of money
- Shopping tour through the Zona Franca
After the usual morning procedure, we leave a little after 9 a.m., finally we have to return the comfortable car at 1 p.m. in Punta Arenas. With a little rain we leave Puerto Natales and drive on the excellent Routa 9 back to the navel and the only metropolis of Patagonia. The deserted expanse is once again impressive. Apart from countless sheep and rheas there doesn't seem to be much in the wilderness of the pampas.
After the return, we will organize ours Bus ride to El Calafate. Tomorrow, unfortunately, everything was fully booked, so we will have to take a day off. Since we will be traveling in Argentina again, we want to withdraw a larger amount of cash again and exchange it for dollars and pesos.
We take a taxi out to the Zona Franca, the tax-free shopping street Punta Arenas. The shops offer an astonishing number of electronics, outdoor clothing, fashion, perfumes and alcohol in a somewhat chaotic manner. I find a new photo bag, which Niki buys for me as a Christmas present.
Back in the city center we look for a nice restaurant where we order another generous portion of Parrillada.
