Friday, 14th May

Had a wonder through the town, we could be in the swiss alps here. Booked our Villarrica Volcano climb for tomorrow so no turning back. Stopped in the nice cafe down the road for a hot chocolate in the sunshine.

Saturday, 15th May

Niether of us slept very well, the wind was blowing so gard we thought our climb might be cancelled but the smoke from the Volcano was only blowing slightly so we headed over. It was freezing at the bottem sowe all got kitted out in wind and waterproofs and started the climb. After the first leg I felt sick and had a splitting headache so was thinking the next 4-5 hours are not going to be pleasant. Our group was divided into 3, the last group were definatley not going to make it to the top, my middle group would have to see how we went with the snow and Toms group were going to get there, after the first hour I wasn't sure either so gave Tom the camera. The first 4 hours were climbing rocky, gravelly, some times just boldersso was pretty tough. I found the 2nd leg much easier than the first, I was at the front of my group so could take it mauch slower. My group ended up walking with Toms when a girl from my group couldn't carry on so our guide had to stay with her. It was great to have the crampons on , it got quite icy in parts and there were huge cracks in the ice that you couldn't help but tread carefully over. The last 2 hours before the top were really hard, the snow became harder and steeper with areas where we really had to lean into the mountain as we climbed so we didn't slip down. The last slog towards the summit was a mix of rocks and ice and was a very slow, step by step finish. We made it up next to eachother and couldn't wait to get our bags off and check out the crater to see how active the lava was. We were lucky that the wind that had been pushing against us had stopped so it wasn't too bad at the top but still freezing without gloves on. There was no cloud so we had an amazing view over other volcanos, hills, lakes and Pucon. We walked half way around the crater to get a view of the lava and weren't disappointed, there were at least 10 bursts and got some good shots. There was only time for a 10 minute break before we had to start the climb back down. After climbing down half of the snow we attached our sledging sheets and off we went down the paths, much quicker and I stacked it on the 2nd one which was pretty funny. The rest of the climb down took a while but was easy compared to going up, the ground was more like sand so had to take big steps and keep going. Looking back up from the bottem, we couldn't believe that we'd done it. So relieved to get back and have a long hot shower. Pizza for Tom and Sushi for me for supper, then called it a night.

Sunday, 16th May

Poor Tom is feeling it more than me today but recon my time will come tomorrow. So nice to have somewhere to have a proper sofa Sunday, hardly moved all day.

Monday, 17th May

Now I ache! Hired a car after lunch and hit the road. A lovely woodland drive out to our first stop, Ojos del Caburgua, an area where the water from Lago Caburgua re-emerges having gone underground from the lake. We walked through the woods around the waterfalls, had play with the camera trying to get better shots of the water moving, both getting the hang of it. From here we drove up to see the playa blanca along Largo Caburgua, it was a beach and amazingly not black sand for being volcanic but tat was it. Drove up to the Parque Nacional Huerquehueand saw Largo Tranquilco wich was beautiful, surrounded by forest. Time for the Termas Los Pozones. The pools were well worth the drive out there and only one other family were there. We'd thought after a while that we'd get used to te temperature and it wouldn't feel so hot but it just got hotter and hotter . There was even a hose with cold water from the streamto cool down with. The pools were in the stunning surroundings, at the bottem of a hill set in woodland with a stream running by. After a few hours we headed back and made the best roast chicken supper, complete with roast potatoes, carrots, onions, sweetcorn and managed gravy too.

Tuesday, 18th May

Headed out to Villarrica town to check out more of the lake, pretty miserable day. Found out there are no direct buses to Bariloche we have to go down to Orsorno forst then across so a full bus day.

Wednesday, 19th May

Bond money from Oz has finally gone in. Magali and Harry made it up the Volcano but there was no lava to be seen because of toxic fumes and to top it off they had to climb down instead of sliding, felt so sorry for them

Thursday, 20th May

Weather not great so stayed in .

Friday, 21st May

Had a wonder in town and found a gifty area with anything you could imagine carved out of wood. Walked around te harbour of the lake which was pretty, lots of noisy birds, ducks and some strange head bobbing something or others. Money has cleared but Oz cards not working very frustrating.

Saturday, 22nd May

Cards sorted bus booked for tomorrow 8am. Beautiful rainbow over Pucon today.