Here are some final photos from the weekend in Rupanco. 

After constant rain all day on Saturday, we woke up Sunday morning to clear blue skies. Southern Chile is so strange in that way, one moment its bleak and gray as Medieval England, the next moment its a sparkling emerald. The sun seemed to motivate everyone out of their slumber, and soon the kitchen was full of bodies bustling about to prepare all sorts of goodies for breakfast. Following the southern tradition, we had a full spread complete with farm-fresh eggs, bread, cheese, toppings of all sorts, and even a tropical-inspired smoothie. With bellies full, we embarked upon the day like one big family, ready to take a peak into the lake and awe at the surrounding volcanoes. 

Thanks everyone for such a great time!

Christian, ever with a net!

Maryse finding treasures...

Happy Lobo!

baby nalca sprouting this Spring!

girls having fun!

Thank you Erwan for your photos (9,15,16)!!

 While Pablo is in Iguazu, Argentina this week for a conference, I went on a weekend get-a-way with friends! 

On Saturday, we headed out to Lago Rupanco to celebrate Chilean Independence Day at the lake. With it being early spring, Saturday was chilly and rainy, but that didn't stop us from exploring, having a barbecue, and enjoying the time together. We made choripans and admired native trees, we heated up the wood-burning hot tub, and threw rocks into the lake for the dogs. Though I missed Pablo, I had a wonderful weekend with friends!

there's a wolf in the water!!

stir that hot tub!

Spring has sprung!

The weather is now nice more often than not. We still have days or even weeks of rain and cold temperatures, but we also have more and more sunny warm days. From now until March, the frequency of nice days will just keep increasing... and with that, so will the number of social gatherings! 

Last weekend we took advantage of a particularly spectacular Sunday and hosted our first ever Sancocho. While the typical nice-weather food in Chile is barbecue, we thought that we would make homage to Pablo's culture by serving this typical colombian soup. We borrowed an industrial sized pot from some friends, scoured Valdivia for yucca and fresh corn, and made a wood-burning fire while we enjoyed the warm spring sunshine. The soup was delicious, though I will admit, no Sancocho will beat the one we enjoyed the day after our wedding. The day was wonderful, though. I can't wait for more to come!

neighborhood we are hoping to move to!

dogs are also loving the sun!

belly is getting bigger!

que cocinero tan hermoso!

Sancocho trimmings

 practicing with baby Vigo!

 another recent gathering at Erwan and Vale's house

 who knew a two year old could be so skeptical

above the clouds in Chavelita

Guess who showed up in Valdivia last week? Pedro!!

Our very good friend certainly did not take the shortest route to visit us, but he made it in style. For the past three months, Pedro was floating around in the wild Pacific on a raft, trying to make it to Chile using only prehispanic traveling technology. You can find the full story here. I sat transfixed in our living room as Pedro recounted the adventure- six meter swells, water rushing in the sleeping bag, rationing, wounds that wouldn't heal, sharks, mental breakdowns. Needless to say, I think that he was the most low-key visitor that we have had. Apparently it all you need is a dry bed and abundant oatmeal to impress a castaway. 

Pedro was with us for just a few short days, so we decided, what better way to treat our visitor? Put him to work! Send him back in the water! We did catch up on some R&R, but we also found time to make some tiny moorings and to go kayaking.

Pedro enjoying land

making moorings = piure traps

kayaking on Llanquihue!