The Lakes Region with the folks

After we left Pucòn we breezed through the lakes region and got to see alot. Here`s a little collage of what we did starting with Pucòn. There`s tons of pictures in our photo album (see link to right) if you want more.

No matter where you are in the lakes region, there is usually a volcano a short distance away. This is Volcàn Osorno, who had erupted just a few days before we arrived.



The south of Chile is full of German influence, both from fleeing Nazi`s and from hippie ex-patriots (according to some Germans we met on the road). You can see the influence in the architecture, skin & hair color, food, uniforms, and random street decorations like in the photo (they`re little windmills?!).



For instance, cheese!



Also in Pucòn there is a LOT of wooden artesenia.



On our first night we went to some rustic hot springs.



There were around 7 pools of varying depths, size and heat to choose from. Everyone was drinking wine and settling into a late night of partying. We left at 11pm, just in time to catch a glimpse of the stars while submerged in the water.



Unfortunately, our car got broken into while we were in Pucòn. BUT, nothing was stolen so it was more of a nuisance than anything else.

After Pucòn we headed further south to the little island of Chiloè. We finally got some of the infamous wet weather we´ve heard so much about.

Chiloè was a place we really enjoyed. It`s got lots of history and, because of its isolation as an island, you can still experience alot of that historical culture. There are tons of legends of ghosts and creatures and a huge fishing culture. And, of course, some of the oldest standing churches around. The place made a huge impression on us also because everyone was incredibly nice. Like maybe the nicest-people-we`ve-ever-met kind of nice. Actually, we talked a little bit about how it reminded us of the southern hospitality we live in back home.

We decided to venture out of the city and visit the national park which was absolutely beautiful... rain and all.






So far Pucòn and Chiloe have made our ¨possible free week options¨ list.



After Chiloè we headed back into the lakes district working our way towards Bariloche, Argentina. Here is Volcàn Osorno, a big hunker of a volcano (but aren`t they all?). We rented a cabaña and decided to drive as far as we could up the volcano.



And we hit snow!




We all had ALL of our clothes on it was so cold... we couldn`t believe it! In the middle of the summer and it was snowing.

Here we are on a boat in the middle of Lago Todos Los Santos, my mom said it was considered to be one of the most pristine lakes in the region. The color of the lake was incredible.

Volcàn Osorno from the boat.



And then we visited Lago Ranco and ate lunch in an amazing restaurant in Llifèn (SE corner of lake) overlooking the lake. The food was incredible and we got silly off the white wine.







We eventually crossed the border and drove to Bariloche via Ruta 7 Lagos. We took a walk in the woods, visited one of the most famous hotels in the world and had a lunch we`ll never forget in Colonia Suiza.



Under this smoking mound of dirt is our lunch. It`s called a Curanto and this restuarant serves it up as a 7 course meal every Sunday and Wednesday.



Under the dirt is a layer of cloth and then wet leaves (see them covering the potatoes?). The whole place smelled of the leaves! Under the leaves is the food and below that are HOT rocks that slowly cook the food, which absorbs the flavor of the smoking leaves.

My mom finnagled our wa to a little table outside for our meal... turns out, unless yer related to Eliana, you need a reservation

Our amazing entertainment for the evening. By the end of the evening he had everyone clapping and singing along to old Argentine folk songs

See how hard they work me?

After lunch and all that hard work, we visited the beach of Colonia Suiza