Delayed Gap Year: Our last few days in the south of Chile

We took a drive around the lake near our B&B to visit the town of Frutillar, on the opposite side from our place. The day was a bit overcast, but we enjoyed the day nonetheless.

I knew the Chile flag reminded me of something...

We saw this cool Mustang cruising around Puerto Varas one evening.

More chickens at our B&B

The view of the volcano from our B&B never got old.

A little church we passed on our drive around the lake

This sign is on the pier into the lake in Frutillar. Indeed.

We were going to walk around Frutillar a bit more, but it started raining so we hopped in the car and headed back to Ensenada.

Good thing the rain didn't last too long, though, because we got a flat tire shortly after we left Frutillar. J got the doughnut wheel on it like a NASCAR pit crew member and we were back on the road in no time.

We took the tire to the local Goodyear store, and what do you know? The tire had been shoddily patched previously - so much so that there was an inner tube inside the tire. We spent that day talking with rental car people at the airport, driving around Puerto Montt, and finally getting the tire changed at the rental car's main headquarters in the city. Whew! After all that rigamarole, we relaxed in Puerto Varas for the afternoon. It was a beautiful day!

No motor whatsoever on this sailboat. Very impressive.

The weather was so enjoyable our last couple days in southern Chile, we were able to enjoy a picnic on the beach and a walk on a trail that goes through a temperate rain forest before turning into volcanic rock and sand. We turned around instead of completing the trail...I'd seen enough volcanic sand, thanks.

This is looking up towards the volcano behind our B&B.

This little goat is a trouble maker. We returned to our B&B one evening and she followed straight to the door. "Excuse me, I just need to get inside for a minute."

She was not going to give up - J tried pushing her back and I tried distracting her. No luck. Finally, J got her to follow him around to the back door, where there is a gate at the foot of the stairs. I went in the front door and J managed to get up the stairs in the back without the goat following him in.

Our hosts asked that we remove our shoes before going upstairs. Can you spot my shoes amongst all the sturdy hiking wear?

One evening, it was so clear we could see the Milky Way. I was thoroughly impressed.

This is on the trail through the temperate rainforest.

The sun was so bright!

The white chicken at the front is a frizzled chicken - look at her crazy feathers. I'm pretty sure J wants some like her now.

Our home for the stay

This volcano's most recent eruption was in the 1960's. It is the one we could see out our bedroom window behind the house.

We walked up the road past our B&B to get a different view. The farmers are prepping for winter time with all the hay rolled into plastic bundles.

This little butterfly landed on me before he found a plant to rest on.

This rooster belonged to the neighbors down the road. Isn't he gorgeous?

More photos from our walk in the forest

One part of the trail was very steep and slick, and knowing how graceful I am, I decided to duck walk down. It's not so far to fall when your rear end is just inches from the ground.

HUGE fern in the forest

Sunset our last evening in Ensenada

Fortunately we had another clear night on our last, and we were able to see so may stars. The Southern Cross constellation is in the middle of this photo - just to the left of the dark spot in the sky.

We returned to Santiago with a day in between flights just because you never know with air travel. We had a relaxing Sunday in Santiago, and got to see their Sunday tradition in the city. There is a route mapped where city streets close off to traffic so that bikers and runners (and rollerbladers and skateboarders) can travel the streets without fearing for their lives.

We had a meal at this Peruvian restaurant we enjoyed during our stay in the city previously. I might turn into an octopus I ate so much of it!

On Monday, we headed to the Santiago airport and spent the day there waiting for our 11 pm flight home. Quacker Jack hung out in the window at the airport.