live in Frutillar, Chile.
Last night, our bus drops us off on the side of the highway at an unmarked bus stop. Granted, we had been warned of this in advance, that we would need to take a local bus ("colectivo") to head into the center of town, but it was dark and rainy and...
well, never fear, there just happens to be a family waiting at this obscure bus stop. They hail a "colectivo" for us. Turns out colectivos aren´t buses but rather shared taxi cabs. We shared ours with a vacationing mom and her son and a kindly man who couldn´t believe Andrea was actually 23 years old. (-No me digas!!!-)
Parted ways down the road but not until they had passed on every granule of advice they could think to bestow us. Of course, the mom insisted we drop by her place the next day should we be in the area... the bottom room with the green window; it´s a lovely view of the lake, we´re told.
Then, our taxi driver tours the neighborhood for us to find the best, safest, yet most economical hostel... free of charge (-Dos extranjeras solas y jovenes, tienen que cuidarse!!-) Granted Frutillar is not that big so not such a feat but still quite the generous gesture.
We find a good secure hostel run by a good upstanding Chilean family; they aren´t trying to rip us off. Very well; ciao to our gallant cab driver.
To follow, the most delightful and jolly family running the hostel helps us to our room. (Private bath and HOT WATER!!! It´s the little things that make us happy these days...)
Dinner down the road at a quaint cafe, also family owned... we can watch the sweet señora in the back grilling our hamburgers, piling on the avocado, loading up our plates...
The couple thought we were from Bariloche, Argentina. -Do you speak english?- they ask us in earnest.
(Probably this was more directed at Andrea and not myself, but I´ll claim little victories wherever I can!)
We bid them fairwell, full with spicey (finally a country that loves its spice!) chilean burgers and homemade blueberry pie, but not before they offer us their hospitality... any help we need, anything we lack, they´re just down the road so if we come running, they´ll be there waiting.
Welcome to Chile. Indeed.
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Not only have you seen some beautiful places, you have been very blessed with the people you have met along the way. What a kind, humble, hospitable, and generous culture you've landed yourself in.
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