How to win friends in Patagonia.

It all began on a chilly afternoon at our campsite in Torres del Paine. I had grabbed the opportunity of securing a whole lamb for our evening meal and was ecstatic when Allahandro (our campsite manager) allowed us the use of their closed lakeside restaurant. As is the case with the majority of South African males, I pride myself on being able to perform in front of the braai. This would be more of a challenge however, cooking in foreign surroundings and for a group of people that included 3 local men (one that was a butcher). With Jackie as my assistant, I set about my task with enthusiasm and confidence and after 5 hours of intensive care the lamb was ready. My audience devoured it like a pack of undernourished wolves and the local boys were shocked that a foreigner, especially one from Africa, could do justice to a lamb. I was promptly knighted an honorary Patagonian, without the sword but rather with a harsh bottle of whisky that lingered in my head long into the next afternoon.