Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Today started badly with our laptop crashing onto the tiled floor, putting it out of commission and unable to accept downloaded pictures. So photos for the rest of the trip will have to come from the limited capabilities of my iPad.
Leaving scenic Puerto Vagas, our bus heads north on Rt.5, the Pan American Highway, a four-lane divided toll highway with surprisingly little traffic. Spring is well along: jacaranda trees, irises, azaleas, lilacs, even oversized rose bushes. Eucalyptus stands reach maybe 70'; grown for their pulp, it's Chile's second largest export crop after wine. No views of mountain peaks today. Eventually we exit the highway west into farmland and move along the Pacific coast with its bluffs and tide waters. Surfers (human), shorebirds, a Many-colored Rush-Tyrant (showing black, yellow, blue) are spotted as we enjoy the warmth of the afternoon sun.
We arrive late afternoon in Temuco, a large city, but since it's Sunday, most shops are closed. We dine at the only restaurant Willy claims is open. It turns out to be another delicious meal in a fun setting. Waiters fawn over us and keep the complementary wine flowing, bringing out multiple platters of complementary appetizers (seafood prepared different ways). One of the challenges is Chileans eat all their meals late. Dinner usually starts at 8:00 and can easily go 1.5-2 hours, which makes it hard to jump into bed for a good night's rest before being out at the break of dawn. We have a couple long travel days right now so we're catching up with sleep on the bus.
- comments