Last blog from Chile

This is the last blog from Chile. We´ve had a wonderful time and certainly plan to return very soon. We spent 3 days traveling from Puerto Varas, Chile to Bariloche, Argentina by boat and bus, stopping in a very small village called Peulla which is in the heart of the Andes Mountains. The ride was beautiful with very clear water and snow-capped peaks.

Bariloche is a picturesque city, very German looking, with very similar architecture as we saw in Bavaria. We didn´t have too much time there, just one full day, but we made as much of it as we possibly could. We visited a chocolate factory, the city square´s public market, shopped at every little store we could find, ate at a couple of spectacular restaurants, and looked at the lake until our eyes hurt. It was surrounded by mountains and very blue. We spent a few hours at Hotel Llao Llao which is a magnificent and very expensive lodge, managing to catch their happy hour and having half price wine. It was delicious made more so by the breathless scenery.

Our ride home was by bus which was also very beautiful. We got to see the north side of the lake and pass through some very Whistler-like vacation resort areas. We have lots and lots of photos.

Now we are at the airport getting ready to board El Comet flight 401. We´ll be in Santiago in an hour and a half, then a four hour layover and catch our flight tonight to fly to Miami and then Tampa, landing tomorrow morning at 9:10.

It´s been a great trip. My Spanish has gotten better (the only way was up) and we enjoyed meeting some terrific people. Thanks for staying in touch with us through the blog, hanging in there and reading my thoughts. It was really fun to do, and when we get home, I´ll tryto find time to write my final thoughts about Chile. Meanwhile, ciao-ciao.