Our new bus guide, Ivan (who is amazing), gave the bus the option to change up Wednesday’s normal programming in favor of a glacier hike in Villarrica National Park. Ivan hates Pachamama. I love him for that reason. He has given us such insider insight to Chile, and I am happy to have met him. He makes this whole tour experience worth it.We arrived in the pissing rain to overcast skies, but took the challenge anyway.
Even in the rain the scenery was beautiful and we were the only hikers in sight. Climbing above the tree line the sun came out to smile upon us. But the wind was so fierce, and made it feel like I was walking backwards. We continued on the volcanic rock path, stopping to fill our water bottles with crystal clear fresh glacier water. Eventually we began to run out of time and Ivan instructed us to run for the glacier if we wanted to touch it. I couldn't imagine running against the wind and instead sat down and ate a PB&Banana sandwich.
We stopped in a neighboring town for some home-made empanadas, and moments later, destroyed from the hike were all slumped over, open-mouthed, passed out.
We arrived in Valdivia and settled into our dark, musty basement dorm room. While Joana and I are getting acquainted with the new group, we spend a lot of time doing our own thing. That evening, while walking around the town, a very drunk man slurredly asked us to stop speaking German so quickly as was having trouble understanding us. We were speaking English, and were baffled by this touchy-feely drunkard. After we dismissed him, he continued stumbling down the street yelling “Aleman”, and giving us the double thumbs down, which appeared to the sober world to be a double thumbs to the side.
This morning we took a field trip to the fish market to see the sea lions before hitting the road. We made the unfortunate choice of eating a traditional Chilean dish last night, greasy french fries smothered with gravy and loads of meat. It shredded my stomach, and I spent another day on a bus feeling like I was going to die. Nothing like diarrhea on a bus with no bathroom.
We spent the afternoon walking around the artesian market in Puerto Montt. I was on a search for the best legwarmers this side of the equator. I have wanted to buy a pair since I met a hand-made-leg-warmer-clad girl in Antigua, but have repeatedly talked myself out of spending the $4. Thank goodness, because after two hours of searching every stall, with meticulous comparing, and contrasting, I bought the most beautiful thick wool pair you’ve ever seen. And I can’t wait to wear them.
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hiking in the rain - Villarrica National Park
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| nearing the top |
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| here comes the sun |
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| fill-er up...fresh glacier water |
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| serious wind action |
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| sea lions |
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| Villarrica art |
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| leg warmer test in Puerto Montt |
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