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On our second car day we headed east back through the Osorno and towards the lakes and volcanos. We, or maybe I should say I, was on the lookout for a German Brewery but when we eventually found it it wasn't open for another hour. I couldn't convince Katy to wait till 1pm, by the side of the road, so we continued onto the town of Entre Lagos and found a brilliant place to stay on the lake with a really friendly host, Maria. She recommended we eat just down the road and we weren't disappointed by the massive steak with pepper sauce that I had and the massive piece of salmon with lemon sauce that Katy had; both with chips. Afterwards we wandered round the beautiful garden the restaurant had by the lake before driving further east towards Puyehue National Park. Here we drove past the very popular hot springs and on up the mountain on a gravel road. We stopped a few times to see some of the many beautiful lakes and eventually arrived at the ski resort of Antillanca. The slopes were obviously closed in the summer but we paid to drive up Volcano Casablanca to the crater at the top and then onto the end of the road. The crater was stunning but as we walked from the end of the road the view got better and better until the point where I don't know if I've seen a better view in my life. We started off with five peaks all in a row, three hills and two volcanos; Osorno (which would dominate many of our Lake District photos) and Puntragudo (which was jagged with less snow). In total we walked for two hours over volcanic gravel and rocks up to the nearest of the three hills where a lake was added to our vista to make it perfect. We couldn't believe how amazing it was and it was almost as amazing that we were the only ones there. This view was certainly just as good as the Bolivian altiplano but here there were no crowds. In the peak season this was somehow our secret! Eventually we had to leave and head back down.
Our evening consisted of slightly healthy Completo hotdogs (which come with fresh tomatoes and avocados) and, for me, a couple of beers all enjoyed by the lake and then on the balcony - a brilliant day.
The next morning we were treated to an unexpectedly great breakfast where everything was home made. We had four types of jam, butter, bread, cheese, kuchen (German cake) and tea (the only thing not homemade). I was amazed that this place was so cheap. Maria thanked us for staying in her house and gave us little key rings for keepsakes - Katy got a wooden heart and I got a pair of mini socks. She was so kind to us that I wanted to give her a hug. Before I embarrassed myself we left; stopping in town to use the internet, fill up the car and get some cash. We then drove south for the four hour drive towards the island of Chiloé. We stopped for lunch in the Chilean-German town of Frutillar by lake Llanquihue. Here we could see volcano Osorno again as well as see some German architecture and eat strudel. We were surprised to see a ginormous modern theatre and hear bagpipes playing. We could have listened to Scottish music and eaten Italian food in the Chilean-German town but Chilean Empanadas were enough for us.
Simon
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