On our way to Santiago, we made a quick two day stop in Pucon, a mountain vacation spot for Chilenos. Unfortunately our only highlight of the town was the bed and breakfast / hostel we stayed at (Frontera Pucon). Run by a young Brazilian couple, the place was modern with great rooms and a beautiful courtyard to enjoy the sunny afternoons. We once again ran into the situation where we get mistaken for Brazilians, although our cover is always quickly blown when people realize we can only reply "si", "no", or "claro" to all their questions. Given its many similarities to Spanish, we understand bits of Portuguese but speaking it is another matter.
Although it features a perfectly shaped smoking volcano and a crystal clear lake, Pucon is a little too tourist ready. In high season it's over run by loud chaotic families crowding restaurants, ice cream stands, and shops. We strongly recommend visiting outside of high season.
We were excited to meet up with an Australian friend and his family who now live on the outskirts of Santiago. We had such a fun time that the week just flew by. Eating in great restaurants (Osaka at W Hotel), visiting the Casablanca wine region and partying with the fabulous group of friends they've made over the past two years was a real treat. We had the chance to get a glimpse into the expat lifestyle of Santiago and experience a few days with the comforts of home, a much appreciated break after nearly five months of being on the road.
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