Engagement

Flower Arrangement of the Engagement

Last Saturday Inés and I had our engagement party. It was just a small thing with the kids, Inés' sister, cousin, aunt and some friends. We had a small buffet in the garden including wine and beer. Because Inés' father had not been able to come I had to asked her oldest son Pablo for her hand in marriage. Then I asked Inés herself bringing her a rose in between my teeth. Very romantic! We exchanged our engagement jewellery, two pins of silver and stones forming a Yin and Yang symbol together. We danced, laughed and drank a lot, keep on doing it later on after the kids had went to bed in several bars of Pucón until early morning. That for on Sunday we just had a lazy relaxing day. It was a very nice, good and intense party that makes us looking forward to our wedding in November.

Now we went back to daily business and at the moment apart from observing and helping with the construction of the sauna I am making new cupboards for all the kids. Inés these days won 500.000 Chilean Pesos in the local casino and decided to refurbish the children's rooms with that money. So it seems we are lucky at cards, as well as lucky in love right at the moment. I see this as a good sign for the incoming winter!

Huerquehue National Park



View from the park to Lake Tinquilco and Volcano Villarica

After we had found all Easter eggs and passed the holy weekend well I decided to go trekking in the nearby Huerquehue National Park the following weekend after a few days of rain. I wanted to take some relaxation before we start with the construction of our sauna and that for the days will be busy again. Weather was awesome again - pure sunshine and 20 degrees C. My plan was to cross the park in two days camping at hotsprings that are situated right at the border of the park. Unfortunately the rain of the days before in the higher altitude of the park had already been snow and so I had to change the plan. I made the touristic standard 'Three Lakes' Hike which brings you to two waterfalls, three amazing lagoons surrounded by native Monkey Puzzle Tree forest and several viewpoints with tremendous views of Volcano Villarica. Inded I partially already had to hike through wet, heavy snow. Back at the park entrance I had to think where to stay overnight. The only official place to stay that had been open still was quite a trendy and that for expensive tourist resort which I wanted to avoid. Because I brought all my camping stuff I decided to sleep instead of that on a campsite I know from my last time here. Only problem was, that it was closed already due to offseason. Well at least it was for free. I had to climb over the fence, almost fell down doing that due to the weight of my backpack but finally entered safely and slept in between Coligue (the Chilean version of Bamboo) bushes at the lakeshore. The second day I started a hike up the highest peak of the park (almost 2000m a.s.l.) but again was stopped by lying snow halfway up. I did not mind because the day was beautiful and so I made a large lunch break enjoying the unbelieveably fall coloured landscape. So far I always had been here in summer when everything was just green but this time the oncoming winter had already painted the trees and bushes in hundreds of shades of green, yellow, red and brown. In between the black to emerald green shining lagoons and dots of white snow. It was a that perfect painting how only nature itself can draw it. I really enjoyed the peacefulness and tranquility of the place and came back to Pucón quite relaxed and happy.

Back here the construction of our sauna and cafeteria had begun and we are living on a construction site. The whole lot is full with builduing materials and crossed by various diggings. Two of them I digged myself the last three days until my hands now finally are full with bladders and still brown of mud after several showers. Apart from that my arm hurt for a whole day like seriously damaged. Well at least I can typewrite again and today I took a day off from the construction just being lazy at home doing some household. But tomorrow the plumber which is a friend of mine is coming and I will help him to put the first pipings. I keep being busy!