Saturday 2nd January

Today we left Villarica having at last seen the volcano and also experienced hot weather. In Argentina the "hora de salida" is a strict 10 am - the Chileans are more laid back and make it 12 noon. Very civilised!

We stopped at Villarica to get some last photos of Volcan Villarica and to take a picture of the above bird.

Across the lake we also got a glimpse of Volcan Llaima which erupted the last time we were in Chile. It is Chile's most active volcano and also erupted last summer. Currently it is 3125m tall. Today it was dormant. It's name in Mapuche means "spits blood."

Llaima

Villarica(2847m)

The skies were clear blue and we headed quickly up the motorway. It was a bit of a volcano fest as at one point we could see seven in one glance.

Volcanoes Tolhauco (2806m) and Lonquimay (2865m)



Lonquimay (typical Strombolian volcano)

It seemed a shame not to spend more time exploring the National Parks which surround the volcanoes, but Chile is a HUGE country and unfortunately we don't have the time to do everything.

Llaima and her twin cones

Lonquimay and clouds!

Sadly today was a huge rush. We've had to cut one section of the holiday out because of our problems earlier, but hopefully one day we will come back.

We crossed back into Argentina, where there was a forest of monkey puzzle trees. Then after a petrol stop at the town of Zapala we headed back south down the RN-40, and finally stopped at Junin de los Andes for the night. It was getting dark. The town centre, when we found it, was pleasant enough. We stayed in a guest house used by trout fishermen and ate at a busy restaurant on the square - home made pasta and Argentinian Cab Sav!

Argentines and Chileans eat late, rarely before 10 pm. We have manged to adapt to this well, but we're not so good at getting up in the morning.