The Phillys in Chile: Man-Eating-Killer-Flies and the Lake District

We are so lucky to have friends come visit. It is something I didn't think I needed, but now that they have come I feel more connected to back home, and very proud of where I live now. The week was exhausting, nonstop sightseeing, lots of walking and sharing small spaces with three men proved trying at times, but I survived. What I almost didn't survive were the man-eating flies and gruesome hike that I will forever hold over Andrew’s head for forcing us to take.

We took a road trip to the Lake District of Chile to stay at Puerto Varas on the 3^rd largest Lake in South America(Llanquihue)…according to Andrew. We stayed across the lake from Volcano Osorno and had the most unbelievable sunset ever which took all our breaths away.

On the Volcanic Sand Shore of Lago Llanguihue, watching the sun set on Volcan Osorno

The next day we woke up early and drove up the Volcano and through a Rain Forrest to the Vincente Perez Rosales National Park. At the trail head we started noticing these really annoying bugs, they were flies the size of nickels. They would land and you would feel a pinch, like getting a shot, sharp and quick but enough pain to make you flinch. Didn’t think too much of these at first so we started our journey. It was supposed to me a 6 hour hike to Lake Todos Los Santos which was on Andrew’s bucket list and he really lobbied for us to take this hike with him. The trail like most trails here was very steep, rocky, arid yet beautiful. Add the killer flies and you are just asking for a complete meltdown from me.

Rain forest drive, little Kia did great!

We catch site of the Lake about 2 hours in (lunchtime) and it is truly amazing. We were hungry, thirsty and tired and we still had about 2 more hours straight down to the lake. We look down at our water bottles and realize we had about 1 cup left each, we stopped for lunch and couldn’t find any way to eat with deadly flies swarming, surrounding us. We would stop and about 20 would start landing on you, I am serious at least 20, and if you killed one, five more would show up. Joe Sebes killed about 100 that day. We couldn’t eat lunch, it was seriously impossible. I am just standing there on the side of this mountain looking down to see how far we have left, looking up to see how difficult it will be to climb back up, with no water, no lunch, the sun getting hotter I just broke down. I wanted to go back alone and sit in the car, I knew I could not go on. After arguing with Andrew in front of company for several minutes, we compromised (I won) we would all head back and drive down to the lake.

Acting civil, a moments peace from all the flies, overlooking a stunning vista

The way back was the most horrible experience of my life (shows how great my life has been so far). I kept getting bit on my right shoulder over and over again, the sun was so hot I could feel my skin getting tighter. My legs were giving out because it was basically sand dunes, I tried crying but I was so dehydrated I couldn’t produce tears, I had stopped sweating, I started to give up. I seriously considered just laying down and making them call a helicopter to save me, and all of the sudden we heard water. One sip and it felt like I could lift a car over my head. We got back to the car and made our way down to the lake stopping at Los Saltos Del Petrohué, which was amazing. And finished the day having an incredible seafood meal in Puerto Varas, sharing a bottle wine and great company.

Andrew loves taking pictures of me in action, Lake Todos Los Santos

Los Saltos Del Petrohué

Here are some pictures of the rest of our Southern Exposure before our Camera died in Chiloé:

Chiloé from the ferry

Something we thought was hilarious about Chiloé: we were searching and speculating where the Ferry took off and how to get on it, the maps made it seem that all the sudden the highway hit the ocean and you fly on to a Ferry...That is literally what happened, we turned a corner and all of the sudden people were ushering our car on board, and it almost immediately departed.