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Published: March 4th 2010
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Pucon
Volcan looking over city As I continue to head south from my origin in Lima, I left Santiago´s big city life for the village feel of Pucon, Chile. A town for everybody, with the back dròp of the towering Volcan Villarrica looking over the city, and the lago of the same name at the edge of the small town. Activities are plenty from volcano trekking, summer snowboarding, climbing, hiking through multiple natianal parks, horse back riding, mountain biking. The water sports included kayaking, paddle boat, swimming, parasailing, jet ski, sailing, boating, canyoning, and whitewater rafting. I took part in the exellent rafting, which included some falls, a class V rapid that the guides only ran, and a 20 ft jump into the river to meet up with boats. All in chilly clear water, while'passing through semitropical forest and views of the volcano. Best rafting I have done well in South America! The town itself is filled with Chiliean tourist, and backpackers with a well developed infrustructure. Less active people come to enjoy lazing on the nice beach around the lake, the fine dining, a fancy casino, good nightlife, lake tours, people watching or finding a shady spot and a bottle of the large selection
Pucon
preparation for rafting of local wine with good company. A very exiting place with small town feel and many smiley faces. I set up in the Puzo campground near the marina, and a five minute walk to the action in downtown. The camp filled with Chile natianals felt like I was the only one without a car. Was able to meet some real good people in the camp, a local climber was kind enough to show me around the town for a few days and teaching me a few tricks about cooking over fire. With my little spanish and his little better english Last day met a few Santiago locals in a band that had good english as we enjoyed sharing cultural similarities and differences. Almost started travelling with them for few days to a natianal park, however further south was calling. So I kept on moving to the Chiloe penisula and the small fishing village of Ancud.
The main attraction in Ancud is the Chiloe lifestyle with its folk history mystical stories in a beautiful coastal setting. The tourist are starting to arrive more rapidly with colony´s of Humboldt and Magellan penguins living in a secluded bay in Puñihuil 30 minutes
Pucon
Section of river at takeout from Ancud. I took the local bus out to Puñihuil meeting a nice German to share the experience with. As we got out there however all the boats were booked till late at night to get a close up of the colonies. From shore you can only see the penguins small images. No eye contact. Its probably good that they recently limited the amount of boats visiting the just offshore breeding grounds for the two types of penguins that coexist. I was able to enjoy the nice bay while eating fresh fish before heading back to Ancud. An energetic family on holiday was kind enough to give us a ride back to Ancud rather than waiting for the bus. Sitting next to me was a very curious funny lawyer with good english. Talking about travelling, movies, disapointing goverments, local cheese, seems as if we were laughing the whole trip back to Ancud. In the back seat the recent university student was able to speak in German to my travel friend for the day. A highlight of the day spending time with the Chiliean people. As with my limited spanish I miss many oppurtunities, unfortunetely. After saying goodbye to new friend
Ancud
At Campground and aquiring a more durable tent from her, I caught the bus ferry combo back to the transportation hub city of Puerto Montt. Where I grabbed first offer in a hosteria. Which happened be a residential house with a family of four. They offered me some dinner and I was able to communicate with the father a local policeman and good father. I was off early in the morning after goodbyes, hoping to get to Bariloche, Argentina by the end of the night. An adventure town, ski resort with a plethora of tourist. I was succesful in getting to Bariloche late at night, not as lucky finding a camp or hostel.
Thanks for everybody's concearns in the recent earthquake in Chile. Everything from prayers, blessings, positive thinking and providing protection shields for my safe journey. I am safe, but thinking about all those that have loss friends family with no place to go in the wreckage. I did wake up to a quick shake far from the epicenter on the other side of the Andes. But didn't realize the severety until everybody started writing me with concearns. Chiloe and Pucon Are much closer, but I have been away for
over two weeks as my travel blog has a delay. I have already experienced Bariloche and the artesian town of El Bolson, Argentina. Now I am just off a 25 hour bus ride to the southern Patogonia town of El Calafete and the near by Moreno Glacier in Glacier Natianal Park. In my journey south in hopes of reaching the bottom tip of Tierra de Fuego and the southern most populated city of Ushuaia. Happy travels!
Jeff
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gibson
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dang your far away
great blog this time bro. the US won silver in hockey.