Wednesday - Pucon, Chile's jewel

Woke up in Mulchen and hit the road right away.   We drove south about 200 kms and turned towards Pucon.  On the way there, on the main highway, a large truck slowly veered off into our lane.   It just kept slowly drifting until it got too close for comfort and I hit the brakes pretty hard.  Carolyn had let out a scream and it left her a tad bit shaken.   Then, on the turn off to Villarrica we hit a pot hole that must have been huge.  Our little 13 inch wheels jarred in really well and we felt the entire thing inside the car as if we had hit something.   Again, Carolyn let out a scream and was somewhat shaken.   Then she saw the smoldering volcano we were headed towards... Probably shaken for the whole damn night.

I on the other hand will sleep like a baby.

     Driving through the town of Villarrica, which is on the other side of the lake I noticed a beautiful lakeside boardwalk and remembered seeing all of this under construction last year.  They did a fantastic job of it, and Villarrica now looks more like a resort.   Heading on to Pucon, we stopped in the same campgound we used last year.   Located almost directly within the town (10 minute walk to the beach), camping here costs $10 per person, while even a shared dormitory hostel can run $50 and up.   Pucon is in a way Chile's version of Whistler, except it's mountain view is of a smouldering volcano.  Yep, you heard me, smoldering.   You can see the steam rising out of the top and Pucon is right at the foot of it.  They even have signs siymbolizing the escape route.   Without any concern for the potentail destruction of the town at any time in the future, construction is going on full tilt around here.   Most of the places would be multi million dollar homes in Canada, and judging from the real estate value here probably not much less in Pucon. When you go from a town like Mulchen and into one like this, you really do see the disparity in wealth amongst Chilenos.  Sometimes, when your in parts of Santiago, Pucon or even Pichelemu with all if it's Cabana construction, you can forget your in a third world country.  Then the Mulchen's of Chile remind you.  Although both have their own charms, the people in general seem friendlier in the poorer towns.  Which brings me to another thing I have noticed... People aren't as friendly to me this time.  We are assuming its because Carolyn can look a little Chilena, and perhaps they think I stole one of their women.  I would offer to give her back but they would expect her to speak Spanish. Foiled again.   I knew I should have married a blonde, much easier to pass off in other countries, and nobody expects them to be bilingual.