¡Hola Chile! - 18.01.2022

Since Sunday (15/01), I have been in Chile, and as always, I arrived here incredibly well prepared. Not.

My first impression of Chile is very positive—surprisingly organized, clean, and calm. Everyone follows the traffic rules, and people are very strict about the COVID measures. The people I have met so far are incredibly warm, kind, and welcoming. The people at the hostel did everything they could to make sure everyone felt comfortable, arrived safely, and had a good time. One of them even accompanied me to the metro, paid for my ticket with his discount card, and explained the way to me several times so that I would actually find the right bus to Lonquimay. Santiago de Chile, together with the hostel, was a wonderful welcome and a great start.

In Santiago, I visited the large park Parque Metropolitano, which stretches across a mountain right in the middle of the city. There, I tried the typical Chilean refreshing drink mote con huesillo. It consists of cinnamon, sugar, wheat grains, and dried peaches. I had never tried anything like it before. It is really sweet, but if you are in Santiago, you absolutely have to try it. From the park, you have an amazing view over the city and the surrounding area with its nearby mountains. However, I managed to get an incredibly bad sunburn during my walk. In the morning, it was quite cool and rainy, but around midday the sun came out, and because of the wind and the altitude, I barely noticed it. Well, now I’m glowing like Rudolph with my face.

At the bus terminal, though, I finally encountered the expected South American chaos. You are simply told roughly where the bus will arrive, and then many, many people wait there at the same time, with nobody really knowing where to go. And of course, nobody speaks English. When a bus arrives, the chaos really begins—and it gets even better when another bus arrives with passengers at exactly the same time. But I made it: I reached my first destination in Chile, the refuge in the Lonquimay area.

The refuge is located in the middle of nature and is built from many recycled materials. There is no phone reception, no internet, no TV—only books. Carlos, who owns the refuge, is creating a place where people from the consumer-driven and fast-paced world can take a break. There are no distractions. Instead, you can listen to the sound of the river and the singing of the birds, go hiking and climbing, or simply sit down and enjoy reading a book.

I will be living in the small round cabin for the next while. It stands right next to the river, and from inside you can observe the starry sky incredibly well.

For the next few weeks, I will support Carlos with his animals, the garden, and the guests who occasionally come by, while exploring the surrounding area. And if I am very lucky, maybe even experience it from horseback.