Introduction to El Sur de Chile

After a very long overnight sleepless bus journey from Santiago, I arrived in Puerto Varas. At least the journey was very comfortable. I am amazed with the cama seats and the amount of space available. I may not have slept well but I was comfortable and did not feel cramped - a contrast to being on a plane! It was a bit of a walk to the guest house from the terminus but worth it for the welcome I received. Mauricio and co gave me a warm welcome and nothing seemed to be a problem. My room was not ready but I had breakfast and freshened up whilst my room was being made.

Soon as I got myself organised, I had a wander. I wandered along the Lago Llanquihue's shoreline. This is where I saw my first glimpse of Volcan Osorno and Volcan Cabucho. Having the perfect weather, I saw the volcanoes clearly and the views were breathtaking. They stand out so majestically amongst the scenery. I felt very humbled seeing them. After taking some photos, I explored the town. There is not much to see and do there although there are plenty of cafes and restaurants where I had a coffee and lunch. I made the last minute decision to do a tour of Volcan Osorno (See the separate blog), which was later on in the day.

At the hostel, I met some friendly and very helpful people. I hope to meet up with one of them when I am in Barlioche. The guest house staff are very hospitable and approachable, which made my stay in Puerto Varas very enjoyable. I highly recommend Compass Del Sur Bed and Breakfast (http://www.compassdelsur.cl) if you are travelling around Southern Chile.

Frutillar

On another day, I caught a local bus to Frutillar, a half an hour journey from Puerto Varas. I had a couple of hours or so exploring the town. I had to do the ritual of having "onces" in one of the tea houses. I also had a wander along the lake's shoreline. Again, I saw Volcan Osorno but clouded this time. I would have liked to visit the Museo Colonial Aleman but time did not permit. However, I managed to take photos of the some German colonial old buildings from the outside and there is a strong German presence with its buildings and food in the town. Frutillar is a nice escape from Puerto Varas and renowned for its yearly classical music festivals.

Visiting Puerto Varas was a bonus. Visiting the town and the environs were not in my original plans to Chile and Argentina but circumstances made this possible and I am very glad I did so!!

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Part of trip: Chile & Argentina 2008

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