Our guided trip has come to an end. Our final day involved a short, but rockin´ and rollin´ raft trip down the Rio Trancura in Pucon. The water was cold cold cold, so we were outfitted in Super Cool Outfit #2 (#1 being the birght orange windsuit for the previous day´s climb) which included a wetsuit, oversized bright orange shorts and paddle jacket, booties, life jackets, and helmets. Our group - the MisArgenAdians with me, dad, Tim, Kirsty, and our head guide Victor - were living it up and we bucked our way through the Class III-IV rapids. It was one wild ride with some huge standing waves and surging holes, standing up on the edge of the raft holding hands as we went through one of the more calm rapids, our guide abandoning us and dad taking over the position of guide, and much "falling" into the freezing cold water.
Our final evening we had a nice goodbye dinner to celebrate our time together, and then continued to a nearby bar. Somehow, we managed to leave dad at the hotel as we all piled into the taxis. Never fear as dad is one resourceful individual! He got himself his own cab, and in the duration of the 5 minute ride, he discovered his cab driver had actually been our raft guide from earlier - the one who abandoned us - AND got pulled over by the cops. His ride was far more eventful than ours!
Yesterday, after far too few hours of sleep, we rallied to get everything in the van and head to the airport. I was terribly sad to say goodbye to our guides and our group. Luckily, about 6 of us are spending a few days in Santiago, so the party will continue for us over the next day or two. Dad and I are currently recovering from too much activity on too little sleep at a hotel in the Providencia district of Santiago. And I really am enjoying the little bit of this city Ive seen thus far. Yes, it´s quite smoggy, and there is this super fast river that looks like poo water rushing through the middle of town, but there is also a lot of green space, many cute cafes, pretty buildings, and - for me, personally - it just seems far more tranquil and manageable than Buenos Aires.
Today is Poppa T´s 57th birthday - Happy Birthday to one of the most amazing people I know! We are planning to bike to the top of the Parque Metropolitano wiht Nina and Jenny which overlooks the city and where we hear there is a great pool for swimming - which should be nice as it is hot hot hot here in la ciudad.
And tomorrow brings another goodbye as I must send dad back to los estados. For now, we revel in our time together here. Hasta la proxima...
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