Pucon

Volcano
thermal bath outside
river that we crossed on the canopy tour


food!
waterfall

beautiful weaving
Mapuche- he came over to the cabanas and hung out with us for Halloween 
Laguna verde

Inside the cabana
Soaking up the sun
This weekend I traveled to Pucon with CIEE. It was about a 10 hour bus ride south on the boarder of Argentina. It is right next to an active volcano and many beautiful rivers and staggering green mountains. The weather could not have been more perfect. We stayed in 5 star cabanas which were unbelievable-pool, hot tub, sauna, tennis courts, you name it. On Friday we got in around 9 a.m. and had breakfast in this building that was built like a castle and then chose the activities we wanted to do the next day. Then we went to a Mapuche community (Mapuche are indigenous people from Chile- the name translates as 'people from the land') and spent the afternoon with a family learning about their music, dance and traditions and sharing some of ors as well. Then we had a wonderful meal outside around a fire. The food was all traditional and everyone scrambled for seconds! After eating they taught us a game that looked similar to field hockey and we soaked in the beautiful views of the rivers and countryside. 

Since it was Halloween we grilled out and had a little costume party in our cabana which was the size of a house. We made grilled chicken and veggies, guacamole and chips and white wine blended with strawberries and sugar... yum! 

On Saturday I did Hydrospeed (which is going down rapids on a thick boogy board with flippers and a helmet.. just a little bit more adrenalin pumping than rafting! hahah) and a Canopy tour which were both really fun. I was going to stay until Tuesday and climb the volcano, but since I didn't feel too well I ended up going back with the group--volcano will have to wait... :(

On Sunday we went to a waterfall and had a picknic by a pretty lake and then spent the afternoon at a thermal spa. We went back to the cabanas for dinner and then back on the bus for a long uncomfortable nights ride getting home just in time for classes Monday morning! It was a great trip and I hope I will be able to go back someday- I'm really excited to get to travel more in the south!