was found the famous Panamericana and we went south. I told you I hate the freeways, but I stood in the rain, still 100km, almost to Los Angeles. And we must say that driving on the motorway, especially if you're away from Santiago, this is not funny. The highway is full of life. Apart from cars and especially trucks and buses traveling at 110km / h there are also bus stops directly on the highway, with kiosks mote con huesillos, pedestrians, cyclists and horse-drawn carts. We even saw three guys on skateboards. And a mother with a stroller. And you go to 120, trying not to crush them.
Toward Los Angeles, Cosmonaut took the wheel to go downtown. We wanted to see how it is and just buy something to eat. And stop at the edge of motorway a mote, it does not give us envy. Los Angeles Chile definitely has nothing to do with Los Angeles United States and the rain played even less in his favor. Again we have checked that without Touristel, Chilean guide that describes rather uninteresting places, do not drive, because there is no indication in the cities. But you have all the plans in the guide. Again, we wondered if we are in cons-meaning or not. Finally, it has bought some empanadas and continued south. Before arriving in Victoria, we left the highway and continued by a dirt road to Reserva Tolhuaca. The dirt roads can be quite large and the roads that there was almost no holes. It was after 40 km we have really enjoyed our Pathfinder, as it was in the ditch conturner a truck carrying timber with the trailer overturned. Here, before coming to the volcanoes, you pass through forests, plantations
And then was Suizandina another address recommended by Andy Refugio Lo Valdés. Even a home with good food, good wine and a nice atmosphere. But it is true that after the familiarity of MILodge was just the formality of Switzerland. Instead of a welcome drink, we received paperwork. But gradually we started to feel like home.
We knew that the days that followed he was going to rain. I was pretty happy, because all three outputs Chillan me very exhausted. My herpes recurred, I started to float in my pants and most importantly, I am concerned for my nose and his attachment to my face like Michael Jackson. At night, hunger woke me up. Saturday morning, snow was falling and it is therefore went to explore the region with Pathfinder. Area Charts are not always very reliable and certainly not accurate enough, and spend time looking for where are the roads is not at all lost time. And if the valley to Chillan gathered at least a little at a ski resort, the valley is under Longuimay an agricultural landscape and it is not rare that you encounter a cart pulled by oxen. Pathfinder has to struggle with some animals and a bull was clearly threatened, shaking her head and refusing to budge from the road. But finally, a little hoot was convinced that Pathfinder is too strong an opponent. By cons, there was a hen that did not have enough intelligence finished crossing the road and almost crossed the finishing abruptly decided to go in thinking that the crossing was too dangerous. In turn, she took the wheel directly in front of our little car. Otherwise, the horn was used quite a lesson to all the sheep, cats, dogs, cows, calves and horses.
We learned a lot about the valley with the owner of hyperactive Andenrose, a cottage a little further down the valley that Suizandina. It was passed by the inn to take a goulash with spaetzle after not taking bath in Termas de Rio Blanco. Besides, if you're afraid to go to Chile, because you do not speak English, go south: it speaks German.
The next day, he was still snowing, so we went exploring again, this time to the Reserve Conguillío the middle which one is the summit of Llaima volcano, the volcano Chilean
Returning, we passed through Termas de Malalcahuello I do not start too. Cutlery, dear, and Sunday afternoon, full of people. This is exactly the kind of things that Chileans love.
I do not feel well because of it. Arriving at the spot where the glacier was well stowed away, he had to cross the lava. I could not remember my fear throughout the rise and there, the cosmonaut had had enough. We decided to descend. The cosmonaut said he never take me with him and he would sell my skis. I replied that it is a bullshit to go the next day and after Longuimay 1400 of driving 700km altitude Santiago. The cosmonaut said that in any case, there would not with me. Etc..
Suizandina, we took our bags and we went to the 700km to Santiago. Fortunately, most was done on the Panamericana, which here is a highway. But even when you see a cyclist without a far rolling in the direction cons to the edge of left lane, you have a little tired. It was the moment when I understood why in Santiago, nobody claims the bike paths. Chileans are not the same as we saw danger.
Me too, I was driving, and just after having driven a couple of policemen stopped me on the highway directly into the emergency lane. The emergency lane ended a few yards away by a lawn and there was no place to put a little more speed Advent reach the highway, but apparently it did not seem to be a problem. But I had no time why worry of stopping. I knew that my license is not valid in Chile. I decided to pretend I could see that c0est just a routine check of which I have spent full. And it worked. After I checked, the officer went in diretta track signaling with his hand cars to win the left lane so I could get out. And you know what? For the first time in my life am using my license as a license, not an identity card. Here, I can call me a driver, right?
Here we are back in Santiago. The leaves on the trees have grown, my geraniums have formed a virgin forest behind my windows and it's 20 degrees ...
PS The photos here are