Day 111: No News Day

Sun. 2nd December 2012

A summary of today is “ It rained all day”  but I have been told I need to write more than four words!

After packing up yet again and leaving our bags in storage, well, behind the bar with another dozen backpacks, we headed off into town. We had seen there was a walking tour in English every day 11am and 4pm – just turn up. The rain was having a break so we thought we would risk it.

We arrived at the allotted place but were alone and on asking in the information office, the lady rang the guide. He could not make this morning but would be there at 4pm. Oh well, off to one of the great cafes here for morning coffee. We had just sat down when the heavens opened. After coffee, we dashed back to our hotel when there was a lull in the rain and sat in the bar area (closed!) and caught up with our admin including trying to reconcile the credit card statement and remaining cash to our daily expenditure. There is no escape from accounts! And so the rest of the day continued in the same vein rushing out for lunch between the showers. At 4pm it was still pouring with rain so we decided against the official walking tour but managed a walk to the lake later when the rain stopped briefly.

We walked back through the main plaza where the statue was of Prat and not O’Higgins as I expected. As it is no news day I will digress onto some history, so you can stop reading now if you are in a hurry.

Bernardo O’Higgins who was Chilean but the illegitimate son of an Irishman dominated politics in Chile for the 5 years after Chile’s independence. He was tutored by Jose de San Martin who liberated Santiago in 1818.

Augustin Arturo Prat Chacon to give him his full name was a lawyer who became a naval hero, famous for his fighting in the battle of Iquique against the Peruvians. He commanded the ship Emerald and died on 21st May 1879 during that war. May 21st is now a holiday in Chile (so Sheila, you should have been Chilean to avoid working on your birthday).

All these names are honoured in most towns and cities by having roads named after them as well as statues in main squares. As a further aside, a popular belief – at least in the United States and the United Kingdom – is that if the horse is rampant (both front legs in the air), the rider died in battle; one front leg up means the rider was wounded in battle or died of battle wounds; and if all four hooves are on the ground, the rider died outside battle. However, there is little evidence to support this belief – (to quote from Wikipedia).

Enough history, the rain which has poured all day flooding some roads finally eased for us to have supper and walk to the bus station to snuggle down with our bus issued pillow and blanket, to sleep away the hours until we reach Santiago. Pucon is a great little town – pretty town, fantastic scenery and lots to do. You could spend a very active week here, climbing the volcano, hiking, cycling, rafting, kayaking, horse-riding and more. It is a shame that time and the weather prevented us taking fuller advantage of all that Pucon has to offer.