South America - Chile Puerto Varas, the most beautiful town

I arrived Portal del Sur at 1930pm, met Maria, an absolutely hyper energetic lady who worked there. She put me into a cozy room. One thing in Chile is that there is no electric heater. All the houses are heated by the old chimmy type of wood burning heater. Around the heater, everything is warm and cozy, further from it is cold and freezing. That is how it is in Portal del Sur. Other than that, everything was nice and warming, just like another home. The bed is supremely comfy, a very equip kitchen, cozy living room and spacious dining room. Derek and I decided to cook our dinner. So, we went out to the supermarket and we were happy to see the fresh produces and all the things we could get there. It was my first cook in the trip, turned out I cooked all our subsequent dinners for the next 3 days here.

I was intended to do nothing after 3 weeks of non-stop travelling, trekking and hiking. I was tired and time to rest, thus, I was thinking to spend some nice and peaceful days here. It was also good to type my diary, upload my photos for friends back home. Puerto Varas somehow became the right place to do nothing other than cook, write and relax. 
During the journey crossing the Andes, the guide told us that Puerto Varas is named the Most Beatiful Town in Chile. I see why the next day. It was sunny and Mt.Osorno showed its clear cone from the east side by the lake.

Mt.Osorno, Chile - Apr 2010.

I walked down to the lakeshore and enjoyed the peace and quiet morning under the sun.

Puerto Varas, Chile - Apr 2010.

Puerto Varas, Chile - Apr 2010.

Puerto Varas, Chile - Apr 2010.

Puerto Varas, Chile - Apr 2010.

After sitting there till almost noon, I went to the apple pie shop. Maria recommended me to try the apple pie in one of the cafes, it was nice. A day passed by in calm and peace. The subsequent day was cloudy, but even more peaceful with nothing happening. The only thing was I got so into cooking, I started this habbit of cooking in every stop which I could. It was late Autumn, Puerto Varas is a bit cold, but peaceful and pretty. I had 3 good rest days here.

After 3 simple and peaceful days in Puerto Varas, the next destination to head to was Mendoza - land of Sun and good Wine!

Heater in Portal del Sur, Chile - Apr 2010.

Smaller Heater, Portal del Sur.

Bedroom, Portal del Sur.

Nelly + Melisa in the Kitchen, Portal del Sur.

Dining Room, Portal del Sur.

Living Room, Portal del Sur.

Information Centre, Portal del Sur.

South America - Crossing the Andes I, through the lake region

The popular journey, crossing over the Andes, with a combination of lake crossings plus land transfers (bus-boat, boat-bus) from Bariloche to Puerto Varas is what recommended to all tourists. So, I be a tourist for a day, cruise down to Chile!

This is my second crossing of border to Chile, first is crossing the Strait of Megellanes.

This journey is highly recommended, but I thought it is a bit of hard-sale and expensive. It started early in the morning when the guide brought us to Puerto Blest and briefed us in short on each stop. It was cloudy and drizzling! I just realized I did not have any good sunny weather in Bariloche at any days at all. My mood was so mashy.

Lago Nahuel Huapi, Argentina - Apr 2010.

The view from the cruise heading to the Chile border on the Andes felt quite normal to me. It took 4 cruises and 3 bus rides to get to Puerto Varas. It took 10 hours. First, we faced the welcome sign of the Chile Parque Nacional Vicente Perez Rosales.

Then, when we turned our head back, we saw the Argentinean side with the Parque Nacional Nahuel Huapi.
The highlights were crossing the border on the Andes jungle at 1000M is to see Mt.Orsono from the west side. The scenes give such a nostalgic feeling that I missed home for the 1st time.

Entering Chile Border, Chile - Apr 2010.

As my second crossing of border into Chile, the little town of Peulla is somehow special, even though it is exactly how a border little, little town should be - little immigration office, little basic elementary school, in a little valley, beside a small lake. Just a little Perfect!

Peulla, Chile - Apr 2010.

Peulla, Chile - Apr 2010.

Peulla, Chile - Apr 2010.

Peulla, Chile - Apr 2010.

In the last boat ride, the free stand Osorno volcano makes one felt to bow to its beauty. There was always cloud moving around.

Mt.Osorno, Chile - Apr 2010.

After embarking full to the land, we headed to Peulla waterfall before finishing our journey in Puerto Varas. The day was late, but the guide insisted that we should walk to the waterfall because nothing is like it. From the main entrance, it was 15 minutes walk and the night was really falling. As I got there, I realized the reason is the waterfall is a formation of volcanic action.

Peulla waterfall, Chile - Apr 2010.

Peulla waterfall, Chile - Apr 2010.

South America - Argentina Bariloche, the Seven Lakes road

May it be conincidence, but may be not!

As I almost get to the moment to write about the Seven Lakes road, Jean put The Motorcycle Diaries in front of me and said, a good book to read. It is indeed a good book to read.

Surprisingly, without knowing it, I made the same route just like Ernesto CHE Guevara. The Seven Lakes road was undertaken in the book during the February of 1952.  If you keen to visit Argentina and Chile, you will come to know that "The Lake Region" in these two countries is one of the most scenic region in the countries.  The road, over Argentina side, simply pass by seven lakes and going through towns from San Martin de los Andes, Villa la Angostura to San Carlos de Bariloche. 

You may continue this journey further to Chile though a combination of cruises and rides with multiple lake crossing.  Along this journey, you will see the Isla Victoria, Bosque de Arrayanes,  Peulla waterfall and Osorno volcano from the east where you will reach either Puerto Montt or Puerto Varas.  From here, you actually can take a bus by land road back to San Martin or Bariloche through the towns of Frutillar, Osorno and the Puyehue National Park, making a full circuit of loop.

That is what exactly I done. I went to San Martin and hiked up the mountain, the small is just as described come into full view.

San Martin de los Andes, Argentina - Apr, 2010.

Going back to Bariloche, I passed by Angostura.

Villa la Angostura, Argentina - Apr, 2010.

And of course, I would not be missing the Seven Lakes on the Seven Lakes road.

7 Lakes View, Argentina - Apr 2010.

Hosteria 7 Lagos

7 Lakes View