After much planning and preparation for a weekend of camping and backpacking we boarded the overnight bus headed for the south of Chile. About 14 hours later we arrived in the quaint city of Puerto Varas. From there we took a rural bus to the inside of the national park Vicente Pérez Rosales. The national park was incredible with numerous lakes and volcanoes. We decided to camp across the lake in a very rustic and small campground with an incredible view of the volcano.
Our group was really fun and included myself, Tim, Mark, Katy, one of my friends, Steph, from Germany, and one of Tim´s friends, Carolina, from Chile. At the onset we had decided that the trip was going to be completely in Spanish which was a necessary decision as us gringos needed to practice and the only way we could communicate with Steph and Carolina was in Spanish.
The best part about the trip was the place we camped because of its unique setting and because of the other people that were staying there. The campground was maintained by a old couple from Germany who also kept pigs, cows, chickens and lots of dogs. All of the animals were free to roam around and it was typical to open up your tent in the morning and be staring at a pig in the face. The other people staying there were Chileans who were there to fish in the mountain streams and rivers. We quickly made friends which was very fortunate as we spent every night circled around a bonfire with them telling jokes, sharing stories, and singing along to music with the guitar. The Chileans shared their catch with us every night as well and I don’t think I have tasted anything quite as good as fresh trout and salmon roasted in wine and onions over a makeshift grill. We also tried a traditional drink which is wine and orange juice heated over the fire.
We were lucky and had very good weather. The south is known for being cold and rainy but we only had about a half an hour of rain. We were very thankful to have the sun as the temperatures were quite cold and I don’t think I took my hat off the entire weekend. During the day we went on hikes, went fishing, climbed up a good portion of a volcano, and went on a boat tour of the lakes. It was refreshing and exhilarating to be outside in a beautiful and untouched landscape.
Unfortunately the four day trip had to come to an end and on Sunday night we packed up camp and invited the fishermen to dine with us in the city of Puerto Mont. After a long weekend of new friends and adventures, it was hard to get back on the bus headed back to the city filled with the reality of schoolwork and busyness, but I feel blessed that I could spend Easter with friends in the beautiful country of Chile.
Wow, amaZing Sarah! It sounds like a wonderful time--what a fantastic fish that guy had!
That looked like so much fun. I'm jealous!! I'm finishing up the last week of classes this week.... oh yeah, and that fish is huge! --Tally
Hey Sales, just lookin at your blog again. I sent you a nice long letter that you should be getting hopefully soon. Hmmm I feel like you are so far away... maybe because you are! I hope you check these comments. Maybe I should have written an email. too late now. Glad you're having a good time. Talk to you soon, love Sue