First off, I appreciate all the suggestions so far for places to visit, all will be considered except for the wiseass who suggested Hell, because I´m sure I´ll get enough of that place later in life.
So heres the last couple of days:
After my last email, we packed up our bags with the idea that we were going to head 3 hours north to Pucon, a little lakeside adventure tourism mecca in Chile. So we set off hiking out of town with the solid notion that we were going to be able to hitchhike there. Well, lets just say my romantic vision of hitching the whole way through Chile was crushed that day, but not until after 3 solid hours of standing by the highway and giving our best ¨we wont kill you if you won´t kill us faces.¨ During this experience, our opinions of Chileans were starting to seriously wane when a man who lived in the house across the street from our hitching spot came out and told us we would have better luck with bigger sign---then he went into his house, made one, and brought it out to us. Then, another neighbor in the midst of a barbeque brought us out some Choripan (sausage sandwhich) and water. I guess watching two gringos doing monkey dances for a ride was pretty entertaining because everyone seemed to enjoy our honest effort. At one point a woman, with child, was next to us and she successfully gained a lift, so there was brief talk of dressing in drag and stuffing some clothes into our shirt. But, after 3 hours, we gave up and made the walk of shame back into Valdivia. But as they always do for the chosen ones, things got better...
We ended up taking a local bus to the nearby coastal village of Niebla, where as luck would have it, we obtained a camping spot at a site situated on a bluff overlooking the pacific. The price was right and the owners friendly, so we toasted our fortune. Our camping neighbors, Chilean students from Santiago, showed us the local fare at community food stall area, where there are basically 40 different mini-kitchens with old women cooking up delicious seafood empanadas and the like. It was the closest thing to an all-you-can-eat buffet I have seen so far, so we treated it as such and gorged. The Chileans, noticing the way we were attacking the food, inquired about the last time we had eaten and I told them the half truth that we skipped lunch that day (we actually ate a snack only 3 hours prior). Gluttony is an American deal, they wouldn´t understand.
We loved the camping location and local fare so much we decided to delay our departure by another day.
Speaking of camping, I have yet to talk about or equipment. We are pretty much the laughingstock of any camping area whenever we set up shop. This is due to our last minute purchase of equipment right before our ranch experience in Argentina. The ¨equipment¨ is sleeping bags that I am pretty sure are lined with pencil shavings and have the temperature rating of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But these at least pass the visual test. Where our credibility takes a serious hit is in the tent department. Basicially, we purchased, albeit slightly unknowingly, a kids tent that makes the ones that Fischer Price makes look sturdy. It doesnt quite cover us fully, so we sleep with our feet sticking out. This hasn´t been too bad, until today when I woke up under the hot sun and realized I was getting a reverse farmers tan. That thing isn´t going to last the first storm--which I´m sure will be something to write about when it happens.
Chile has been great so far but a little pricey. Another downside is the dollar to peso exchange. Here it is 466 Pesos for every U.S. Dollar, meaning that in addition to the 5 second delay for translation in our dealings, we now have the added 5 second delay for computation of high numbers. Needless to say, we probably look ridiculous standing there in silence for 10 to 15 seconds before ever responding to questions or answers. Just write the number will ya!
Today we arrived in Pucon and are signing up for some type of adventure excursion for tomorrow. Vamos a Ver!
Lifejackets are for sissies,
Q
So heres the last couple of days:
After my last email, we packed up our bags with the idea that we were going to head 3 hours north to Pucon, a little lakeside adventure tourism mecca in Chile. So we set off hiking out of town with the solid notion that we were going to be able to hitchhike there. Well, lets just say my romantic vision of hitching the whole way through Chile was crushed that day, but not until after 3 solid hours of standing by the highway and giving our best ¨we wont kill you if you won´t kill us faces.¨ During this experience, our opinions of Chileans were starting to seriously wane when a man who lived in the house across the street from our hitching spot came out and told us we would have better luck with bigger sign---then he went into his house, made one, and brought it out to us. Then, another neighbor in the midst of a barbeque brought us out some Choripan (sausage sandwhich) and water. I guess watching two gringos doing monkey dances for a ride was pretty entertaining because everyone seemed to enjoy our honest effort. At one point a woman, with child, was next to us and she successfully gained a lift, so there was brief talk of dressing in drag and stuffing some clothes into our shirt. But, after 3 hours, we gave up and made the walk of shame back into Valdivia. But as they always do for the chosen ones, things got better...
We ended up taking a local bus to the nearby coastal village of Niebla, where as luck would have it, we obtained a camping spot at a site situated on a bluff overlooking the pacific. The price was right and the owners friendly, so we toasted our fortune. Our camping neighbors, Chilean students from Santiago, showed us the local fare at community food stall area, where there are basically 40 different mini-kitchens with old women cooking up delicious seafood empanadas and the like. It was the closest thing to an all-you-can-eat buffet I have seen so far, so we treated it as such and gorged. The Chileans, noticing the way we were attacking the food, inquired about the last time we had eaten and I told them the half truth that we skipped lunch that day (we actually ate a snack only 3 hours prior). Gluttony is an American deal, they wouldn´t understand.
We loved the camping location and local fare so much we decided to delay our departure by another day.
Speaking of camping, I have yet to talk about or equipment. We are pretty much the laughingstock of any camping area whenever we set up shop. This is due to our last minute purchase of equipment right before our ranch experience in Argentina. The ¨equipment¨ is sleeping bags that I am pretty sure are lined with pencil shavings and have the temperature rating of about 55 degrees Fahrenheit. But these at least pass the visual test. Where our credibility takes a serious hit is in the tent department. Basicially, we purchased, albeit slightly unknowingly, a kids tent that makes the ones that Fischer Price makes look sturdy. It doesnt quite cover us fully, so we sleep with our feet sticking out. This hasn´t been too bad, until today when I woke up under the hot sun and realized I was getting a reverse farmers tan. That thing isn´t going to last the first storm--which I´m sure will be something to write about when it happens.
Chile has been great so far but a little pricey. Another downside is the dollar to peso exchange. Here it is 466 Pesos for every U.S. Dollar, meaning that in addition to the 5 second delay for translation in our dealings, we now have the added 5 second delay for computation of high numbers. Needless to say, we probably look ridiculous standing there in silence for 10 to 15 seconds before ever responding to questions or answers. Just write the number will ya!
Today we arrived in Pucon and are signing up for some type of adventure excursion for tomorrow. Vamos a Ver!
Lifejackets are for sissies,
Q
Posts
4 comments:
Q - I hitched across the south island of NZ, and it takes some time committment. I waited 10 hours once for a ride. Some spots just have bad voodoo and you have to keep walking. Good luck.
Keep up the writing - these posts are great.
Q,
Valapraiso, Chile is a hot spot - perhaps a bit pricey.
You should be shooting for Bolivia. It's incredible, cheap, indigenous folk all over the place. Salt flats, jungle, anything you want at your price.
Just imagine you and Petro chewing on coco leaves, sipping coffee,and staying up all night.
Hey brain looks like the trip. Is every thing i thoght it was going to be. So far there have been big fam get togathers to get money for the Brian fund. i'm still tryen.
Just caught up on the second half of your blogs tongiht....WOW! I have officially moved you and Petro to be my joint best men and Andy and Dave down to guest book attendants.
Love the stories and pictures, keep up the good work!
Annoucnment! Petro, new VP of T. Lawn
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