02/17/2024 Panguipulli

Today we had to get up earlier because we wanted to go on a trip to the surrounding area. Panguipulli, on Lake Panguipulli, was our destination. This should be a typical Chilean vacation spot that has not yet been discovered by other tourists! Approximately 120 km northwest of Valvidivia, in the middle of the Lake District, which is popular with Chileans. A slightly larger bus took 2.5 hours to get there from the bus station. We were glad that we had reserved seats at the counter when we bought our tickets (€4.50 per person), because the "intercity bus" filled up very quickly and picked up passengers at many stops along the way. Even though it wasn't a modern overland vehicle, the tour still had something calming about it. There was a distorted radio blaring in front of the driver, who at the same time had his phone cable in his mouth and was constantly chatting with someone, the engine was whining quite loudly, and people were often talking very animatedly among themselves, but everything had a peaceful atmosphere. People helped each other getting in and out, old, physically clumsy people got all the attention from the driver, who greeted each guest in a friendly manner. We all drove from A to B together! Paying also seemed like it was part of it: the driver had an open wooden box with a bundle of tickets. The money that each passenger only paid when they got out went into the wooden box. Most people gave between Ch$1,000 and Ch$2,000, depending on how long they spent on the bus. The driver hardly handed out tickets, but nobody asked for them! Only shortly before each individual exit did the passengers come to the front, pay and explain to the bus driver where it was best to stop. Of course there was also movement on the bus at the regular stops, but he only stopped it if someone was standing there or had made their presence known beforehand. We ended up just handing over our previously purchased ticket, like cash!

The landscape on the way was very similar to our local areas: fields of wheat (mostly harvested in February), round bales of straw in the fields, herds of cattle, orchards (mainly apples), smaller green forest areas. But always with the high mountains in the background, the blue sky and sunshine! In the town itself there was an architecturally unusual church, but unfortunately it was closed. It can no longer surprise anyone that “God of Love” is so forgotten when churches all over the world are closed (“you little children are coming”)!? Instead, modern pop music rang out from the towers!? In addition to the church, there was a main street with shops and restaurants that stretched from the church square to the lake! Here the offer changed to tourist bric-a-brac. The audience was there for it, because the view across the lake to the mountains was worth the visit alone. Two volcanoes (Vocán Villarrica 2847m and Vocán ?), one of which last erupted in 2015, were also included. At the lake itself we went on a boat tour with a lot of speed and loud old rock music and had a few more opportunities for photos from the boat. Further along the lake we came to the public beach. People under umbrellas, on folding chairs, on blankets... the beach was well attended. There was a cordoned-off swimming area with lifeguards and Franziska and I plunged into the water, which was around 21°C. A stage had already been built in the water right next to our swimming area, where a party with a live band was to take place in the evening. The sound check was in full swing and we moved on to dinner. The man from the boat tour had recommended a restaurant nearby and we were soon sitting at a small table on the terrace. Even though there was no alcohol and smoking was prohibited, the food was very tasty, very plentiful and very inexpensive! Karin and I shared a plate of fried salmon and lots of salad and Franziska ordered the largest empanada. The lemonade and homemade berry sorbet topped everything off. We were even able to eat the straws made from rice flour or bobon paste! We then headed towards the bus station, where a bus took us back around 5 p.m. This time we didn't have pre-booked tickets or seats, but we were able to sit until Valdivia. Back into a micro and go home! Garden, beer (Karin with honey, Franziska with Maggi) and eating leftovers! We had enough of a day, but Frsnziska still had to work.