Week 12

We arrived in Pucon at night, found our hostel easily as it was on the same road as the bus station. We had tea and went to bed quite early for the few days ahead.

The next morning we couldn't decide on what to do. After a lot of dithering we ran out of options, it was a hike up El Cani then! Getting to the bus we bumped into an English couple which we had met before in Brazil and Chile. They were doing the same walk so we joined them and a girl who worked at our hostel and was from the States.

So we headed up the hill to reach the top with great views of the volcano's and the surrounding lakes. We were told it was tough, but my god was it tough, one and a half hours of walking up (and I mean up!) and we make the forest, one hour later we make a lake from there it was 45 mins even steeper to the Mirrador (the Peak). Shattered we made it to the top. The views were stunning.

As we climbed the hill we noticed there were a lot of Tarantulas in the under growth, this freaked out the other English girl and the American. As we relaxed on the top of the hill I suddenly noticed the American had one crawling on her back! EEEK! Whacking it away, we decide to head down the hill.
When arriving at the bus stop we noticed a local dog that was clearly underfed, like usual Caroline went up and stroked it, but this time she was joined in the fussing of a the dog by the American and the other English girl.

That night we went to some local hot springs to bath in, perfect after a day of hiking. The pools were amazing! 5 pools increasing in temperature with crystal clear water and relaxing under the stars. Perfect!

Caroline with Jonathan from India and Gaila from France,



The following day we had planned to go on a bike ride but it rained all day, only giving us an hour to do a small walk round the town. That evening we had a few drinks with people from the Hostel before setting off one more time on a night bus to Santiago.

Arriving in Santiago early in the morning we made the most of the day, visiting the Memorial Museum to the lost lives of the Pinochet and an Art gallery. The following day, we went on a walking tour of the city, visiting Art galleries, important government buildings, a torture house, and a fish market, where we had lunch with a German couple from our Hostel. The food was amazing, the couple were so German it was funny and awkward! The city had a great vibe and we had a really enjoyable day. The following day we went to a Vineyard on a tour, it was the Winery that produced the Casillero del diablo wine. However the tour was short and the wines we tasted were cheap and nasty and felt like a real waste of money.

 Wow I look old!

Another week gone and we head further North to La Sarena, land of the clear skies and numerous Observatories.