Spring in Chile and the Push for Patagonia

We´re back in Chile again and just made it through another weekend. We always thought it was difficult to find stores or restraunts open in SLC on a Sunday, but in Chile and Argentina life nearly comes to a grinding halt. Almost all the stores are closed, and restraunts keep strange hours that are not consistent with our fickle eating habits. Yet, we perservere. To the left is a pleasant view from our room in the hostal. Brrrr.

And this is the only action we get on another lazy Sunday afternoon.

We´re heading out on a ferry this afternoon from a bustiling city called Puerto Montt. The city itself it nothing spectacular so we stayed about 30 minutes outside of town in a place called Puerto Varas (this port is on a lake though), which is much more quiet and has a great view of three massive volcanoes...or so we hear. It´s been cloudy and raining like mad for the past three days. We did make it out to another small national park one of the days when there was a break in the weather, and saw some waterfalls in a massive river that were formed by a fairly recent lava flow. The water rages with so much force that it actually shakes the small bridge (capacity 10 people) that crosses one narrow section. Since it's still early in the season we had the fals to ourselves for almost 45 minutes before people started to show up--one of the benefits of going places in the off season.

Waterfall Salto de Petrohue

Another pretty place in another pretty National Park.

The downfall, as I mentioned before, is the weather. Eventually the rain started again and we hopped back on the rickety old mini-bus for the voyage back to our hostel. Although the safety if the buses here in South America is occasionally questionable, we had reassurance on this dilapidated old jalopy, and out minds were at ease....

....it´s a dark photo, but that´s an old hammer on the left fastened to the bus. Even if there were an emergeny you wouldn´t be avle to move that sucker. Fewwww....safe at last.

The travelers on yet another mini-bus.

Next up is Patagonia. We´ll probably be off the radar for the better part of the next week or so, but hopefully the weather will be kind to us and we will return with some more tales and stunning visual imagery. Until then, Viva Chile!