Arrived in Pucon & got straight off bus, put up tent, then hopped onto a mini bus into town to book our activities.

About half of us booked in for climbing Volcano Villarica the following day, so after being fitted out in waterproof jacket, pants, gloves, helmet, hiking boots, we raced off to the supermarket to get food for breakfast & lunch as that was not included and we had a 6.45am pick up.

 Now shopping in a foreign country is never easy especially when the supermarket is packed full of international tourists jostling to get supplies! 

So after doing laps trying to find what I needed (which takes a while as not all food has a picture on the front of what it contains!), I'd managed to lose everyone in my group and had to walk back to camp on my own.

So it's about 10pm and sun has only just set, and I am wandering down the main street both arms fully laden with goodies feeling optimistic about finding the camp! Too bad I didn't really pay attention to where it was on the bus into town, nor know the name of where we camped!!!

So I get to end of the main street and take (what i thought at the time) was the last left turn towards my camp ... Walking walking ... Don't recognize anything ... and then nothing ... just a road that leads out of town!!!

Ok so maybe now I'm starting to feel a little panicked - thank you once again Lonely Planet for the paranoia induced from reading your 'Dangers & Annoyances' section! 

I cut back to the service station I just passed trying to form the words in my mind that I need to say in Spanish, to ask if there's a camping ground nearby ...

The attendants are all busy with filling up cars ... Full self service here! When he's free I ask 'Puedo decir mi donde es el campo umm 'grounds'?'. 

Not sure how correct it was but he seemed to understand but was shaking his head in thought ... 

So now I'm getting really worried and repeatedly asking 'Campo por aqui?!' (near here) and doing related hand gestures with probably an increasingly worried look on my face!

So at this point I'm thinking I may have to call Kumuka in Australia to find out where my group are camped ... Maybe get a room of my own if I can't contact them ... Then knowing some time has passed wondering if the tour people have missed me and are looking for me?

He asked another attendant who also shook his head and looked deep in thought ... More conversation ensued between the attendants and then they seemed to have worked it out! They were pointing further down the street and counting on the fingers ... Obviously not confident I understood Spanish! 

'Dos calles ... A la derecha?' I asked.

'Si, si!' they replied! 

Phew! Thanked them very much and farewelled them - they did seem concerned for me, the loco gringa who can't even find where she's staying!

I still wasn't entirely positive that we were communicating about same thing (or that weren't luring me into a trap to harvest my organs) but headed further down the road out of town and turned right 2 streets down ... By now I've seen 'Hotel Interlaken' that i was trying to steal wifi from earlier so know I'm in the right vicinity and feeling a lot more positive! 

Halfway down the street I get to the camping ground entrance just as the first person came out to look for me! Back at camp I got a lot of greetings of 'Oh yeh we were wondering where you were?!'

Alas I will ensure I stay closer to the group in future and know where I'm staying before going out! Oh soooooo glad now for taking those torturous Monday night Spanish lessons too!!!

Ok now onto my other adventures in Pucon!

So after a few hours sleep (thanks to other holiday makers partying at camp ground!) we were up at 6am, and on the road to the Volcano Villarica at 6.45.

We arrived at the base of the chair lift and from here you can hike or take a chairlift 1km further up the mountain toblake the climb easier ... And of course we all took the easier option!

So once at the top of the chairlift the guide divided us into groups, and explained how to use our pick for hiking ... and if you fall! 

From there it's just a slow trudge up the mountain, traversing left and right  and following the foot print in front of you.  

Looking up to see the spectacular views puts you off balance so it's head down the whole time.

Approx. every 45 minutes you stop for a snack and some water - not too much though as no toilet on the side of a volcano and no trees to hide behind!

The walk was not too bad - at some points you'd get a bit puffy but generally ok with all ages in our group.

As we neared the top we started getting wafts of the toxic fumes from the volcano ...  I had a few whiffs and my lungs contracted immediately struggling to draw breath, needing to pump some asthma spray into me for the first time all climb.

I was still striggling to breathe after this so fortunately we made it to next point just after which was approx 200 meters below the summit.

After my little unable to breathe episode I was quite happy to follow the guides advice & not go up to the summit where the fumes are worse, and he happily took my camera up and took some great pics and video instead - so sort of feel like I was there!

After this we took all the heavy waterproof gear, helmet and sled out of our packs and geared up for the slide down!

They've carved what looks like a shallow bob sled track into the side of the mountain to guide you down. You then sit on a little plastic paddle which clips onto your belt and folds between your legs (not very comfortably though as have some pretty horrendous looking bruises on my inner thighs!).

You then use your feet and ice pick as brakes as you slide down the mountain.

All good except have you seen how steep a volcano is?! A few of us girls where a bit trepidatious to try it at first, so the guides happily offered for us to sit behind them and wrap our legs around them.

Although I did try it myself in the end as well - going with the guides was best as they had the technique down pat and got better speed, and at least with them you knew you weren't going to accidentally go sliding off the mountain!

We  still had to do some walking through the dirt to the bottom of the mountain, and by this point we were all very happy it was over - returning to town late in the afternoon.

We had a quiet night with just a couple of vinos around camp. Popped a couple of sleeping pills to ensure I got a good night sleep & went to bed at midnight - woke lunchtime the next day! At least I was well rested!!! 

Went for a stroll round town, checked out the black sand beach that overlooks the lake and uploaded pics from camera onto the Internet (which was cheap after all as I read prices wrong - sorry to anyone I didn't chat or reply to!).

Stopped into the supermarket on the way back for a bottle of premixed Pisco  Sour and 1.5L wine (both equivalent of approx $4 AUD each!).

Went to hot springs that night ... They were natural open air rock pools of varying temperatures. Very relaxing and lots of fun with most of the group going.

Finished the night off with a couple of Pisco Sours then bed - no sleeping tablets this time!

Woke at a reasonable hour and went for coffee & pastries in town. 

Afternoon was white water rafting - so much fun! Class IV so was fairly tame ... scariest bit was getting out of boat to walk past a Class VI waterfall (we watched as guide took boat through) them having to jump about 6m into water on other side of falls! The height was one thing but trusting the guide that there were no rocks - anywhere - is harder ... Turns out he was right :-)

More cerveza (beer) served at end of rafting session & they did the same thing after the volcano climb - serving as opportunity to mingle with and tip your guides.

That night we celebrated Australia Day with a BBQ and lots of drinks! 

I cracked out my Aussie gear - a flag, scarf and clip on koala as well as and adorned myself in the last 2 along with my 'Hi I'm Sharon' shirt (thanks wing lady Nat!). These were all a hit with the Kumuka crew and Nat you may have started a new fad! 

We then went out for a few bevvies at a local bar and on the way back I accosted a local at the ice cream shop (still open at 1pm) and used my drunken dodgy Spanish to explain it was Australia Day and can I take a photo of him in my Aussie gear - all staff at shop wanted in  (see Facebook for photo) and left them with the clip on koala to remind them of the drunken Aussie girl :-)

Left the following morning to camp closer to where we board the Navimag Ferry.