Tuesday, November 1, 2011
AMAZING EXPERIENCE AT THE SINGULAR
Amazing is the best way I can explain the new hotel THE SINGULAR. The concept is totally amazing, the decor amazing to the 10th degree and I don't even know where to begin with the staff.
They are all so new and helpful from the General Manager on down to the dining room staff and the great bar tender. This stay was probably the exception, but Santi the GM joined us for dinner every night. It was almost like eating at the Captian's Table every night during a cruise. This young man manages a staff of hundreds, and yet had enough time to sit with me and explain all the plans and aspirations that he has for this deluxe property. Hailing originally from Barcelona, Spain, I have no idea where he got so much experience because he is one of the youngest GM's that I have ever met. His staff hires are also amazing form Rafael the Maitre D to Rodrigo.one great local guide, Not only was Rodrigo fluent in English (self taught mind you) but there was not one question that you could ask that he did not know the answer for. He was also an amazing geologist and botanist aside from being one of the best hiking guides I have ever had the pleasure of following down a trail.
Which, by the way, is one of the main purposes of The Singular. Located about 2 hours south of Chile's Torres del Paine National Park, the hotel sits on the edge of a huge lake with access to the Pacific Ocean. Singular has two motor yachts with about 10 seats each for excursions up into the nearby fjiords and to the base of the Balmaceda Glacier. It was so amazing to take a sunset cruise (at 8PM) up into the fjiords on this lovely little vessel accompanied by its amazing captain Ulyses and his first mate who were there to serve us champagne or Chilean wine and hors d ouvres while Rodrigo explained what we were seeing.
The next day we road into those same areas by the base of the glaciers to see bird life and a chance for me to ride a criollo horse up into the hills looking for Condors. One excursion that I didn't get to do was to kayak on a nearby lake. The hotel provides you with a complete winterized wer suit ad Wilderness Kayaks with rudders so that you can navigate in these some times turbulent waters. You an also take a day trip into Torres del Paine to see the amazing "cuernos" or horns that crown the park.
The hotel also has mountain bikes and hiking routes to follow and many more amazing activites planned for the guests including a full scale spa right on the edge of the lake.. They are even planning to have the chef teach a wine course, a chilean cookiing class and as well as a pisco tasting class along with other ideas for those days when inclement weather may stop the outdoor plans.
So as always, whenever I travel, I never get to stay long enough to totally enjoy the places I see. However......., next year I am definaely coming back to the Amazing new hotel to spend my vacation at THE SINGUALAR...a singularly amazing place to stay in Patagonia.
i
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