Le Banana

A Trip to The End of the World

LEBANANA

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11/06/2015

If you like Patagonia and getting in touch with nature, then this article is for you.

Explora Patagonia Hotel, which is located at the center of the Torres del Paine National Park, and which was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is one of the most sophisticated and far-off places of the continent. Its southern and distant location makes it perfect for getting away from routine, going deep into the breathtaking scenery of Patagonia, and living a totally different experience with nature.

Surrounded by wild landscapes and animals such as guanacos, rheas, flamencos, and condors lies one of the most extraordinary hotels of South America, a place where the comfort of a five-star hotel and the essence of Patagonia make an exquisite blend.

The hotel was built in 1993 by the architect Germán del Sol and it is an architectural landmark. It won many design awards, one of which was the Readers’ Travel Awards given by the British Magazine Condé Nast Traveller, which awarded it as one of the best 16 hotels in the world.

Explora’s cuisine also shows the essence of the place. It highlights the native Patagonian flavors and combines them with a sophisticated touch and a superb Chilean wine that make each dish unique.

And when it comes to food, we can’t avoid mentioning one of the most fascinating Explora’s experiences: the lunch at Quincho Explora, located in a tiny valley where native gauchos prepare an exquisite Patagonian lamb (cooked tied to a metal cross or spit) and delicious empanadas.

What can I do at Explora?

The hotel offers various options and each guest can choose the one that best fits his/her interests. Explora’s activities are divided into three different intensities and the election of one option or another will depend on the capacities and physical condition of each person. Hiking, visiting the Grey Lake glacier and horseback riding along the Park’s paths are the most demanded and easiest alternatives.

For those who want to enjoy the comfort of the hotel, the spa is something not to be missed. The indoor swimming pool and the outdoor Jacuzzi facing the Pehoé Lake and the Torres del Paine are the perfect mix between the purest form of luxury and silence.

Tip:

To arrive to Explora, the best option is to take a plane from Santiago de Chile to Punta Arenas and then get in the Explora’s van which in five hours will leave you at the door of the hotel.

I have a dream

LEBANANA

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11/06/2015

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This is the first We Love of Le Banana, and I want to talk about people who have never given up on their dreams. Nowadays time flies and sometimes you might feel that everything has to be done right now. If you don’t achieve success at your twenties, many people will tell you that you have missed the boat. A friend of mine often says that opportunity knocks but once. But I don’t agree. I can’t imagine a life like that. We have opportunities all the time; we just have to identify them. The most important thing is being passionate about what we like and being aware of all the things surrounding us.

Many people believe that once we are 30 or 40 years old, we have no more opportunities, but there are many examples that contradict this idea, and I want to show you some of them. The renowned fashion designer Vera Wang set up her atelier when she was 40. Before that age, she had practiced artistic roller skating and she had worked as a fashion editor. But it was not till she was forty that she started designing wedding dresses. Nowadays she is a talented and renowned designer.

Mary Kay Ash, the founder of the famous make-up brand “Mary Kay”, set up the company with her son when she was 45 and from that moment on she became an icon for a lot of women. Mary developed a way for women to earn money and still spend time with their families. Her slogan was: “Praising people to success”.

When he was 52, Ray Kroc, McDonald’s founder, transformed a small self-service restaurant located in San Bernardino, California, into the number one fast-food company. And he was sure that the best years of his life were still to come. “The more I help people to be successful, the more successful I am”, he used to say.

Although she was already a celeb, Susana Giménez started hosting “Hola Susana” TV show when she was 43, and that age she became the “queen of the phones” and one of the most important celebs of Argentina and Latin America

Last class, my English teacher told me that after 20 years of having worked as a sworn translator she had finally got the job of her dreams.

I love hearing that people’ dreams come true and reading about public figures that have been examples for many people. And as I read and know about these men and women, I feel that the social myths that prevent us from moving forward and accomplishing our dreams start fading away in my mind.

That’s why I tell you…It doesn’t matter what your neighbor or the competition may do, it doesn’t matter what other people may tell you, the most important thing is to follow your dreams and focus on your goals. If you do that, everything will adjust in such a way that your dreams will come true at the right moment, just when you are prepared to live that experience.

When should you give up on your dreams? NEVER