Mud, Street Corners, Volcanos, Country Girl

We are back in Santiago for a few days... I have so much to tell you... Hmm... which story?? How about a highlight paragraph and then the real deal?

HIGHLIGHTS: We went to hot springs and went into a mud bath under the stars... I got in without hesitation, but I didn't remain in the thick, black, chunky goo for very long. Salsa dancing in a barn (literally) in Pucón until 4 am while people sat on the gravel floor with pillows and listened to the 7 person Cuban band. Hanging out with this guy we met in the barn - Roberto - until 6am - and drawing many looks from people... people looking at two gringas on a street corner at 430am, why HE was the Chilean with us, why why why... we laughed a lot about it (sounds shady, I know, but it 26 wasn´t). Rafting on a level 4 river (goes up to 6) -- super exciting -- what they didn´t tell us beforehand was that we had to jump from a 2-3 story cliff into the gushing river below. Staying Sunday night at Kila Leufu, a Mapuche-influenced farm 23 km outside Pucón. Our rafting guide´s wife (surprise!) met us at the door, and their two daughters introduced us to the pigs, chickens, cows and turkeys. The four year old girl showed us which apple trees were the sweetest to eat, and the twelve-year-old walked us through the herb and vegetable gardens. Kate and I sat and drank coffee while over-looking the volcano outside our window and the asado hut. We ate a homemade dinner with travellers from Germany and Switzerland, and woke in the morning to cows´noises and homemade bread and mermelada. That day we hiked to a private laguna in the mountains to swim, and stained our fingers and tongues with wild blackberries.

REAL DEAL: There was something so appealing to me about the farm, and Sandra´s family´s life... it was so simple... she could enjoy the beauty and slowness of life while still being in touch with the greatest of the world through the travellers who came through each day... her priorities were clear (it´s difficult for me to keep priorities in check): love her daughters and family, care for the people who come through Kila Leufu, breathe in beauty, learn about the world... Being there and talking with her stirred the country girl within me and inspired a few hours of conversation for Kate and I... There is no 'better' way of life -- it´s a choice... but it seems that hers would be less of a struggle to live WELL.