Sweet Home, Angostura

It´s Katie, and I´m breaking the law right now. Hostal law, that is. The sign says no computer use after midnight in order to keep things peaceful for the other guests. However, I am ninety nine percent certain that Hallye and I are the only guests in the hostal right now. My plan is to deny that I can read the sign written in spanish that says what time the computer must be turned off in the case that I am caught by the hostal owner. For the past two hours I have been trying to fall asleep but that is not happening for me right now so I will fill you in on the last week and hope that by the end I will be droopy eyed and ready for bed.

Last week, Holy Week for all you Christians out there, was spent in the cozy home of a Chilean family in little Angostura, Chile right outside of San Fernando. Hallye and I spent the week eating grapes from the viñard, getting fattened up by Señora Carmen´s home cooking, and climbing the hills to see the views in central Chile´s wine country. By the end of the week, Carmen and Carlos´s three sons had returned from Santiago to spend easter break with their parents so we had the pleasure of mixing with some chileans of our own age as well. During the week, before the boys came, Hallye and I visited a nearby beach (Pichilemu) for a day and on another afternoon visited Casa Silva winery in town. Gabriel, Alejandro, and Lalo were all home on Friday and they treated us to a night of music, wine, and pisco in their home. Saturday and Sunday were also celebrated Chilean style as we attended a reenactment of the crucifixion of Christ at Angostura church and were shown how the chileans grill out with an ¨asado¨ the night before we left. The grill out, which was attended by multiple members of the Silva Henriquez family, was a feast containing nothing but meat. Pork and beef kabobs and filets were roasted and toasted and stuffed in our bellies. There was no such thing as potato salad and apple pie at this grill out...just MEAT!!! ...and wine of course. It was delicious.

We were sad to say goodbye to our substitute chilean family of the week. They were more generous than we could have ever imagined; allowing us to feel as if their home were ours. And it was truly special to spend the easter weekend with a family, instead of alone in a hostal. By Sunday we had made friends with the boys and even some of their friends and are hoping for them to visit the United States someday so we can treat them to just a fraction of the hospitality they showed us. Carmen, I believe, was just as sad to see us go and she even sent Hallye and I packing with some chocolate easter eggs and a bag full of grapes. We found them so eager to help us out with anything and the boys´uncles even helped plan the remainder of our time in Chile.

Right now we are in the southeastern lake town of Pucón, Chile. It feels a little resort-y with the smattering of restaurants and tour agencies lining the strip, O´Higgins Boulevard. It is a resort town, however, that hosts a number of travellers eager to climb the Villarrica Volcano overlooking the lake at it´s base. The views are beautiful here not only of the snowy volcano and shimmering lake, but of the swiss and german influenced architecture as well. Tomorrow Hallye and I will wake up early to stamp on the cramp-ons and climb the snow capped beast ourselves. We set out at 7:00 tomorrow morning and will get back late afternoon tomorrow. I can´t really explain how excited we are. Today you could see smoke coming out of the top of the volcano and tomorrow we will actually be right there!

Our excitement is also growing for our upcoming trip to Punta Arenas, Chile where we will take on a four day hike to the Torres del Paine (google image this, its incredible!). After we are done here in Pucón, we will fly from Puerto Montt down south to the end of the world..literally almost...to the southern tip of Chile to do this hike. It will be six hours a day for four days and camping at night. This might be the biggest thing Hallye and I have either done in our lives. I can´t believe we are doing it still, but we won´t regret it when we get to the lake and see the torres. We will be renting all the equipment there. The weather is cold and rainy but everyone we have heard that has been there has raved about it. Not only that, but the Chileans we met could not stop telling us how southern Chile (Patagonia) is the most beautiful of all the country.

Before I get too far into this adventure, I can´t get ahead of the volcano that is looming in the distance for tomorrow. I will report back on this and hopefully have pictures to share soon. Until then, I must try to get back and get some shut eye for the ascent tomorrow. Nothing would be worse than to fall headfirst into molten lava because I couldn´t stay awake..haha.

Well, hope the weather up there is getting nice and warm. The climate here right now is equivalent to October up there. Just perfect. Also hope everyone had a nice Easter and talk to you soon.
Katie