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.
This is a "completo". It is the staple food of all good chileans. The huge bun isn´t so much nececcary because the hot dog itself is particularly large but rather beacuse you load it up with avocado, pickled vegetables, tomatoes, mayonaise, maybe some cheese, and then mustard and ketchup as you so desire... godzilladog??
We watched a sky diving competition in Valdivia.
Our lovely little kitchen at the pizzeria with Gloria and Carlitos posing.
The dining area of the pizzeria.
Empanadas de pino
Carlitos is always running around the shop. Mario is in the background fixin up some home made french fries for lunch.
We harvested mounds and mounds of the tiniest coconuts I´ve ever seen in my life. Andrea made some incredible coconut cake too.
Sometimes Mario and Carlitos make whisky from old beer and when you light it on fire it glows blue because its about 100 proof...
This is Sarah. She kind of stole my heart.
Outdoor market in Valdivia.
Chupón makes a really delicious after-meal liquor.
HUGE GARLIC!!!
HUGER MUSHROOMS!!!!
In Chile, blueberries (and raspberries as well) are dirt cheep, in an abundance, and divinely delicious.
Señora Blanca´s backyard. No joke.
Tomatoes and the Ends of the World. Ask me later...
Gloria preparing fresh sea urchins for lunch.
Señora Blanca preparing the... sea snails? (I think)
Lake in Carburga. The water was NOT temperate unlike Mario would have you believe.
La Moneda (like our White House) with Mario and Gloria.
Cacaca, the horse whisperer
Riding horses around La Vega where the farm is located. Please excuse my ridiculous face but the sun was very shiney that day. I didnt realize how awkward it looked until it was uploaded and blogger doesn´t allow me to delete photos once they´re up.
Terremoto, the old man pup.
I danced with the cowboys at a rodeo in the country...
... and Andrea played the güiro on stage!!!!
Viña del Mar
(I already told you she stole my heart)
