All travel is, after all, a journey in time and in mind …. physical landscapes are a mirror of, or perhaps a key into, our inner landscape.
John McCarthy, Between Extremes
I have that feeling, which I have had often in Chile, that while human beings can make efforts to control, tame and use this place, clearing forests, marking boundaries, their influence here is only transitory.
Brian Keenan, Between Extremes
The best travel books should leave you with a desire to visit the places they describe. I’m not talking about travel guides, but about travel writing; that is, accounts of journeys. Experiencing these journeys vicariously is a wonderful way to discover potential destinations, or to see ones you have already visited through fresh eyes. It is also a great way to see how all of us travel in different ways, with different priorities and different approaches to the challenges that travel sometimes brings.
Such a book for me was Between Extremes by Brian Keenan and John McCarthy. It inspired me to want to see Chile for myself. But it also appealed to me because of the way it is written, turn-about, reflecting not only their contrasting styles of writing but also of travel. It struck me as the ideal book to share in response to Ritva’s Lens Artists challenge this week.
In 1986 Brian Keenan & John McCarthy were kidnapped and incarcerated in a Lebanese dungeon. Chained at times to a radiator in a tiny cell, they had just each other and a few volumes of an ancient American encyclopaedia to provide any intellectual stimulus. They fantasised about running a llama farm in Patagonia and imagined walking in the High Andes.
Five years after their release, while the llama farm fantasy was naturally abandoned, they still yearned to see Patagonia. They decided to travel to Chile to see if the reality matched their imagination. Between Extremes is the story of that journey. They describe their adventures in alternate chapters, and also include much about the country’s recent history, especially the Allende and Pinochet eras. Brian Keenan is also very keen on the poetry of Pablo Neruda, which I knew nothing about till I read the book.
But what struck me perhaps most of all was their different approaches to travelling, as they reflect to some extent mine and my husband’s! I am like McCarthy, carrying a map already marked with the sights I want to be sure to visit in each location. My husband is more like Keenan, happier leaving things to chance and allowing time just to soak up the atmosphere. Yet like McCarthy and Keenan, we have learned to make room for each other’s preferences and make travelling together a special experience for both of us.
And we both agree that Chile was one of our favourites among the many countries we have visited! Here, therefore, is a selection of images from that trip. They were taken in the Atacama Desert and the Torres del Paine, the two places I most wanted to see after reading this book. And they more than lived up to my expectations!
Atacama Desert
Hover over any image for a caption giving the location in the Atacama. My feature photo was also taken here, from the Mirador de Kari at sunset.
Torres del Paine National Park
Hover over any image for a caption giving the location in the national park
I visited Chile in 2016
41 Comments
thesimlux
Always great photos and writeup from you! 📸📝
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
Both areas look beautiful. I like the sound of the book. I read years ago the book John McCarthy wrote with Jill Morrell after his release which I think was similarly told in alternating voices.
grandmisadventures
Beautiful pictures! I’ll have to add this to my reading list. My husband is the planner of the two of us while I am the wanderer and take it as it comes 🙂
Klausbernd
Great photographs 👍
My wife and I are similar. She plans every trip meticulously, and I just go and look where we end up. In our case, it combines very well, too.
Nowadays, we are sceptical of travelling far. We think that travelling has lost its magic in times of mass tourism.
Thanks & cheers
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 🙂 Yes, I am definitely the trip planner, and although my husband will input a few ideas and priorities he leaves the details to me. I’m sorry to hear that travelling has lost its magic for you. I feel there are still many adventures to have and places to see!
Klausbernd
Hi Sarah
We have seen everything we wanted to see. Now we stay here on the island and enjoy fine hotels for a couple of days, and then go home again, where we have everything we enjoy.
We have the same attitude before our little trips.
The Fab Four of Cley
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
thehungrytravellers.blog
I remember having exactly the same reaction to a book written by a lady travelling alone through Croatia shortly after independence. It inspired us to follow some of her route and compare what we found with her notes. Chile looks fabulous, but then South America just continues to deliver and inspire, doesn’t it. It’s a while since I read a travel book now, I suppose blogs have taken over. Maybe I should put that right.
Sarah Wilkie
I know what you mean about travel books, it’s quite a while since I read one, although I do often try to read novels set in a country I plan to visit. And I hope you get to Chile – if not on this trip then on a future one. It’s my favourite of all the South American countries we’ve visited 😀
wetanddustyroads
It’s wonderful how a book can inspire you to visit a country (or new places). And when I look at your photos, I can understand why! Torres del Paine is incredibly beautiful – that’s a place that also hovers somewhere in our travel list …
Sarah Wilkie
I’m sure you would love the Torres del Paine, especially knowing how much you enjoy hiking. There are some wonderful longer walks there that were beyond me but would suit you two, I am sure!
Sofia Alves
You made this challenge work in a completely different way, Sarah and your photos are epic. I’m in love with the tree near Salto Grande, magical shot.
Sarah Wilkie
It was a bit sneaky to be honest, but I was just back from a trip and wanted to be able to contribute without having time to shoot images specially for the challenge nor to spend ages hunting for what I think would have been very few photos f books in my archives!
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
The landscapes are amazing as always Sarah, and glad you were inspired by a book.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Ritva. I’m not sure this was what you had in mind for this challenge but I enjoyed reliving my Chile adventures!
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Yes, not what what I had in mind, but your photos are always worth seeing.
Sue
Oh my goodness, what a gallery of stunning scenery! The power of books to introduce us to thoughts, ideas, places….
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sue 😀 Chile has so much stunning scenery, and of course I completely agree about the power of books!
Graham Stephen
⬻𓂀☆♡ 🎀 𝐵𝑒𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑓𝑢𝑙 🎀 ♡☆𓂀⤖
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Graham 🙂
Graham Stephen
🙇♂️
the eternal traveller
Our few days in Santiago and Punta Arenas have definitely given us a desire to return and see more of Chile.
Sarah Wilkie
I hope you get to go back – it’s one of my very favourites of all the countries we’ve visited!
Teresa
It really looks so cold in there so I am not keen to go. But your captures are really amazing.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa 😊 At the lower levels, which is where we spent all our time (I’m no hiker!) it really wasn’t cold, apart from a walk we did to reach the boat to Glacier Grey.
Suzanne
Some of those mountain views could be in NZ. Stunning place as are your photos, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you very much Suzanne 😊
Rose
I really liked this post. I love hearing how the book influenced you to want to see Chile for yourself. ‘Between Extremes’ sounds like a story I’d enjoy reading. Your photos of Atacama Desert are quite impressive, but the photos of Torres del Paine National Park really captivate my attention, especially the waterfalls of Salto Grande and Cascada Paine.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Rose, I’m glad you enjoyed this post 🙂 It’s an excellent book, but a true tale, not a story! And the Torres del Paine National Park is absolutely stunning!
Monkey's Tale
Patagonia, both Chile’s and Argentina’s sides is one of my favourite places in the world. So much beauty in a harsh climate.
Sarah Wilkie
We’ve not yet been to the Argentine areas of Patagonia but the country is high on our wish-list so watch this space!
Jane Lurie
Gorgeous landscape images, Sarah. You have a great eye for composition. I hiked in Torres Del Paine with Tina! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Jane 😊 I knew both you and Tina had been to the Torres del Paine but not that you were there together!
Marie
I had never heard of the Atacama Desert before I signed up for a tour that included it. It was incredible. Your photos are great. Who knew such beauty could exist in a start landscape.
Sarah Wilkie
It was in this book that I first heard of it Marie, and was determined to see it for myself! Thank you 🙂
Marie
An incredible place.
Egídio
Breathtaking photos, as always, Sarah. The power that books bring to our lives is endless.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Egidio 😊 I’ve loved getting lost in a book ever since I was a young child!
Tina Schell
Like you Sarah, we have visited many of the world’s most beautiful places and Patagonia is among my personal favorites. That is really saying something because I despise the cold and typically avoid it at all costs but in this one case it was well worth the occasional shiver 😊 (and of course the hikes and high tech clothes make it less onerous). Your images, as always, are wonderful! I must admit I hadn’t heard of the book you featured which sounds really interesting. Excellent response for the week’s challenge!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Tina 😊 I hate the cold too but will put up with it when travelling if the rewards are worth it, as they were in the Torres del Paine! Actually it wasn’t really cold apart from on the walk to catch the boat to Glacier Grey.
Anne Sandler
Awesome images Sarah!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Anne 😊 It’s an awesome destination!