Chile

The first town we stayed in Chile was Pucon (South of Santiago). Pucón's an unrivaled location by an active volcano and a large lake called Villarrica. This town has a lot of adventure sports to offer, from water and snow skiing. backpacking, river rafting to horse back riding and kayaking. There are also hot springs, zip lines and guided ascents up Villarrica volcano.

The first backpackers we found felt more like a home than a backpackers. There were backpackers from Israel, Argentina and Chile. The Chilean couple that owns and looks after our "home" was the most loving two people. We arrived on 29 December and even though George and me were the newcomers, they immediately invited us to have New years dinner with them. Everyone staying there made us feel right at home. After New years dinner we went to the beach for the big countdown and fireworks. It was impossible not to get sprayed with champagne! The beach is black, made up of volcanic rock, and is next to a large lake called Villarrica, and its size makes you feel like your in an ocean bay.

Our Chilean "parents"

New years eve with house mates

New years on beach of Villarrica lake

We spent a lot of time in the evenings with our Israeli and Latino friends and during the day we tried every activity this town had to offer. We decided to river raft and climb the active volcano in the next few days, but because it was raining we took on the rivers first! The winding river runs between the green mountains and lush forests. It was beautiful scenery and we had the occasional wrestle to make sure everyone got a little wet! We met two amazing people, Devon and Valerie, from the Canadian Army. Its always the people that make a trip, and if you have a group of people that need a lot of translating to understand each other, it makes action team sports even more fun! Especially if your guide only speaks Spanish and you never know what to do! Some times our guide got very excited and then screamed in a panicky tone, "shrsharhshshsharhs", and what do you do with that!?

River Rafting in Pucon, Chile

Upper Trancura river

We were very fortunate, as it had been raining for 2 weeks before we came and there are no trips up the volcano when it rains. The day after our river rafting it was blue skies! We booked our places with our guide and got our gear together. You wear a waterproof pants with a rubber "nappy" to sit on and slide down once you reach the top! The waterproof climbing shoes feel like you tied bricks to your feet and your axe is to prevent you from sliding down the 2800m volcano if you slipped and it is used as a break when you sliding down (Which is of coarse rarely used if you are a guy!) This sounds like an add on the radio in South Africa where they say: "Real men don't cry, except at the birth of your first child, and if its a girl, like you!"

Villarrica Volcano

View from halfway up Villarica Volcano

Zig Zagging up the Volcano

Devon and me reaching the top!

South Africans, Latino's, Canadians on top of volcano

There were few  surprises as exciting as hearing the sound of the ocean and then realising it is molten lava rumbling under your feet! The sulfur that comes out of the volcano burns your nose and eyes. If you look at the people on the ridge on the other side of the opening of the volcano, you get an idea of the size of Villarrica volcano. Keep in mind that the narrowest part of the volcano is the top! Look at the first picture of the volcano to see how small this opening looks!

Sulfur gas burning your nose at the top of Villarrica volcano

People across the opening of volcano, gives idea of size

Then comes the sliding down! We climbed six hours to the top and you slide down in one! This is an exhilarating experience as you go faster and faster and suddenly come to a stand still in a wall of harder compacted snow. You then just jump up and into another "line" and keep going! The view is spectacular when the snow is not in your eyes!

Sliding down Villarrica volcano

The next day we sat! We were always on the run during the trip and if we sat, we rested! I love the sun. But the direct sun, the indirect sun reflecting from the snow and the sweat washing off my sunscreen lead to the worst sunburn I ever got in my life. Some pieces of my face were almost burnt black!

Me after climbing Villarrica Volcano

Sitting means resting

There is a statue like the "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Rio de Janeiro overlooking the city of Pucon, smaller of coarse. Pucon was definitely worth the visit. The people made Pucon exciting and being able to make and share memories like these are jewels in the years to come. You can tell a lot about which direction your life is heading by looking at the people with whom you've chosen to spend your time and memories. A.A Milne made me aware of the irony of life when said: "Good judgment comes from experience, and experience- well, that comes from poor judgment."

Similar to "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Pucon

We visited Santiago and other large cities, but found the quieter towns like Maitencillo resonating with what we were looking for. The large cities are great for parties and meeting people, but the smaller towns have character, atmosphere and scenery. The small towns like Maitencillo are also less touristy and you know it by the staring faces. We found a place to camp close to the ocean and were welcomed by a friendly Argentinian couple.  

Our Argentinian neigbours

The ocean was cold, but the beach was busy and the people very friendly. This is one of those places where you realise how reserved your culture is! If women were to walk around on our beaches dressed in these "less-than-bikinis", our beaches would have been overcrowded! The restaurants make you feel like you are on an island, drinking rainbow coloured drinks with straws and little umbrellas. There is also an abundant  sea-life in the pools and lagoons around Maitencillo, with horned crabs and gigantic sea-stars.

Maitencillo beach

Restaurant on the beach, Maitencillo

Breathtaking sunsets in Maitencillo

When we got off the bus, someone took a picture of us and said it was only for a project. A few days later we sat at the same bus stop. The lady next to me looked at us and turned to her newspaper. She kept doing this and then I greeted her in my plain funny sounding Spanish. She smiled and pointed with her finger to us and then to the paper. As she turned the paper to us - there we were! On the front page of the newspaper with the title: "Invasion of foreigners"! George and me jumped up out of shock!

"Invasion of Foreigners"

With the illicit drugs trade business at $322 billion, it is one of the largest international businesses. Its hard to imagine that this beautiful country and care-free people can be part of it. As we left the sea side, we climbed on a 48hour bus ride to a town called Puno in Peru, next to Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world.

What we thought to be a boring trip through a desert, turned out to be part of the route of the Dakar rally! So we got to see some of the race and modified vehicles in action, racing past us in the dry desert!

One toilet, 30 people, 48hours

Desert in Chile (Part of Dakar Rally)

"Cocaine is God's way of telling you you have too much money" Robin Williams