Lake Region of Chile

Yesterday was a travel day from Atacama here to the Lake Region of Chile, about 1,000 kms south of Santiago. We flew LATAM, a very nice airline.
We travel fairly light: A small backpack and carry-on. I'm liking my waterproof wallet thing for my phone and passport. Ask me if you want to know how to pack small. 😄
The desert could not be more different from the Lake Region. Here it's green and flowering with forests, lakes and volcanos.  We saw herds of pretty cows on our taxi ride last evening and lots of local cheese in the market today. 
There is a heavy German influence in this part of the country. The indigenous Mapuche fought off the Spanish for about 3 centuries and ruled this region almost as a separate country until the late 1800s. Around the 1850s lots of Germans settled this region. (about the same time the Amana Germans came to Iowa). We are staying at Helga's guest house and feel we may have stepped into Bavaria.
It's cool and cloudy and rains a lot. It's summer here but high temps are only in the mid-60s. We still hope to see the volcanos across the lake in the next few days. They are behind these clouds.
Puerto Varas is called "the city of roses", but I was most impressed with the gorgeous hydrangea bushes. 
We spent the day walking around the town and along Lake Llanquihue and climbing to Cerro Philipi (a forested park above the town).
Marc did a little exercise on the equipment along the street and I struck a pose.
I go to bed each night full of gratitude and fall asleep reciting my thankfuls.






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