Obese pigs, hot springs, and volcanoes

Amber:

Here I sit in our hostel in Pucon, Chile, dipping a nutty brownie into herbal tea. All the walls around me are made out of wood, and each panel has its own unique pattern. Dad just took my brownie plate to cut me some apple and cheese for our late snack.

Last time we talked, dad and I were about to hop on the bus from Santiago to Villarrica. We made it, after 11 hours of bad movies, crying babies, but beautiful scenery. Villarrica, an authentic Chilean mountain town known for the active Villarrica volcano and ginormous Villarrica lake, had my favorite hostel thus far of the trip.

La Torre Suiza is ran by a Swiss couple (Beat and Claudia) who, after bicycling around the world for 32 months, decided that Villarrica is where they wanted to make a home for themselves. The hostel feels so swiss! Everything is made of wood, little bay windows have plants and volcanic rock resting on them, and like most houses here a wooden stove serves as the heating system.

(Picture: Inside La Torre Suiza with Beat)

That night, we met a Brazilian couple traveling for a few weeks. Madet taught me a Brazilian tune on the guitar, a really unique rhythm that I´ve never heard before!

The next morning, Beat reccommended a bicycle ride for us, a 25 kilometer tour of the surrounding farm area. (He went on a bike ride at the same time as us and came back when we did, except he went 50 kilometers.) Luckily, we glimpsed the tip of the volcano through the clouds. We saw plenty of cows, horses, and sheep framed by healthy green hills, but were suprised when we saw a GIANT pig in the middle of the road. It looked about 200 pounds! I took a picture with it.

OINK OINK

Our great 25K bike ride around Villarrica, Chile

GREAT WEATHER AND LOCAL FARMS

Later in the afternoon we took a bus to Pucon, just a 30 minute ride to the more touristy adventure area. We checked out the hostels and I bought some authentic wool yarn (lana) and knitting needles from a mercado. I had to check out the chocolateria, too! Yummmm.

That night, back at the hostel, Beat taught me a few songs on the guitar (he used to play in rock bands and has books of tabs for hundreds of great songs!)

The next day we enjoyed the great breakfast of homemade Swiss-styled bread (thanks Claudia!) granola, yogurt, fruit, and tea. We took the bus to Pucon again and dropped off our heavy backpakcs. We went to a little restaraunt and had hamburgers (they were great! Delicious avocado and freshly baked bread) and rented a car for 24 hours!

There are tons of hot springs around here, and we chose some that were relativly close and very natural. We took the scenic route, stopping on the way at a ¨power spot¨as dad says, a place where 2 rivers meet creating three booming waterfalls. The drive had great farm scenery and a pebbly road. The hot springs were relaxing- 6 natural pools of varying temperatures, and there was barely anyone there.

(Picture: Waterfalls at the ¨Power Spot.¨)

AMBER AT THE POWER SPOT WHERE TWO WATERFALLS FALL INTO A CLEAR BLUE POND

Drove back to Ecole hostel, and here I am, 10 PM, still drinking tea.

We´ll stay in Pucon a few more days and take advantage of the adventures around here. Possibilities: more hot springs, hike around national park, climb the volcano, via ferrata, skydive, trekking, mountian biking... Our choices are a bit limited because it is winter, for example it has to be a clear day to go skydiving. Don´t worry Mom!

I´m glad we´re here in the late winter-early spring because its not tourist season. Almost everything is open and nothing is too crowded!

Hope all is well!
Love Amber

PS: Try saying this five times fast: Cheap sheep shop.