That One Time in Pucon

I went to Pucon for a week of vacation. Before I left a friend told me that the place would remind me of Hayao Miyazaki and his work. Oh boy did it ever! It was BEAUTIFUL! the colors were so pretty; the shadows were purple instead of grey and the entire town was made of timber. I finally got to hang out with Tania in Chile. The two of us got a room to ourselves and we had some sisterly bonding. Which somehow ended up consisting of staying up late every night and a lot of sleeping the next day.

Our hotel had a great view of the lake, but we had a room facing the other way toward the city.

The first night we got there it started to snow. Even though the snowflakes melted as soon as they hit the ground, just seeing the snow fall around us was amazing.

We went skiing/snowboarding one day when the day was clear and sunny. The volcano is the first to get clouds in that area, which is why we had to wait for a nice day. Otherwise, you can't see anything and it gets so windy that the lifts become dangerous.

The ride up to the slopes was an adventure in itself. The old reason we were able to get up there was because we were traveling in a big 4x4 suburban. Most cars around here get no bigger than a little truck. I don't even think I've ever seen a flat bed truck in Chile. 

This day was monumental; only because Tania decided that she was going to attempt going on the slope for the first time in years. Hopefully this helped her get over her previous bad experiences on the snow. I stayed with her for half the time. Then she got tired at sat the rest of the day out. I took that time to test out my RUSTY skills. I went on the only intermediate slope there, and although I went down alright, I am nowhere near as good as I used to be.

The next day we went sightseeing. Everywhere around Pucon is just as pretty as the town itself, if not more so. It kind of depends on whether you like nature or being around people more.

The sun setting in the fog looked crazy.

We found a lake that was surrounded by snow. This is where the ex-president lives. Right by the water, with a view of the calm lake.

Then we went to the Ojos de Caburgua. This is another place I'd really like to go to during summer. I've been here before, but I just barely remember. I couldn't have been more that 5 the last time I was there.

Cute dogs are all over the country!

We went to some the most beautiful hot springs I've ever seen, but then again I haven't seen ever many. It somehow made me think of a mixture of Japanese gardens and bath houses.

When we got there we were all freezing, but we had to change outdoors into our bathing suits. Just imagine taking off your five layers to put on one tiny one in the snow. I died. As soon as I was ready I practically ran across ice barefoot just to get into the first hot spring. It was only at body temperature, but I was so cold that it burned the most out of all of them. After getting into the first bath, everyone could pretty much just get out and walk around for five minutes before getting cold enough to have to get in again. 

Our bodies wouldn't really get too cold, but the water that dripped from everyone's body would freeze on the floating walkways and make it really hard on our feet.

A Trend in Family Dogs

Tania's in Talca!

I also got to send Tania to Talca. This weekend wasn't planned at all for me. I literally stuffed a back back with some clothes and headed off to meet my sister. Even still, the weekend was perfect and I got to travel around a bit. 

We traveled by train and when my Tio Tomas picked us up I noticed that we weren't actually in the train station, but beside it. The old/ original one is now structurally unstable because of the earthquake a year ago. Right now most of the reconstruction effort is being put into the new hospital. Everything else is just waiting for more funds.

Before heading home we stopped by Tania's new school. We were the only ones there when we did the mini tour if you don't count the guard.

It rains a lot in the south at their solution to it is... paths with roofs! It looks pretty cool

Then we finally got to Tania's last stop. Her Chilean home. YAY!

I made her put on her uniform and model for us. hehehe

Then we all just hung out together, caught up, ate, drank, people smoked, and finally we ended with some music.

Maria Pia learned what it was going to be like living with another girl rather quickly. It was the first time they had to share the bathroom and she was sitting outside waiting for about 20 minutes.

All three Pia's were finally together again! Its been awhile. These two are the only Pia's I've ever met in my life.

Just before leaving I asked to see my cousin in his swanky doctor's outfit. With some begging and pleading he obliged. He said no facebook. I don't think he knows about my blog, so he didn't ban me from putting it here instead! He looks AWESOME!