Courtesy of Connie Martin

Picture this... you're on an episode of "Fear Factor". Okay, so maybe you're not on the actual TV show, but you're definitely feeling some fear right about now. You're in the Lake District of Chile, halfway up Volcano Villarrica, one of the most active volcanoes in South America. The climb itself isn't too strenuous - you're only gaining 1500m altitude of which 400m is with the aid of a chairlift - but the hiking conditions are difficult. You started hiking on loose volcanic rock but left that behind around an hour ago and are now climbing on snow. In some places the snow is icy and slippery and footing is tricky. You're using an ice pick for stability as you walk, and to dig into the snow to stop yourself from sliding into oblivion should you slip and fall. You can't help thinking, as you look at the pick in your hand with jagged teeth and sharp points, that in an emergency situation you'll more likely impale yourself on it than successfully use it to stop a fall. The incline seems incredibly steep and looking around makes you feel dizzy, so you take only quick glances at the amazing scenery around you. The wind is howling, bringing tears to you're eyes and blurring visibility which is adding to the fear-factor element. You finally reach the top and breathe a long sigh of relief. You peer over the rim of the volcanic crater and see red lava inside that bubbles and spits. The volcano is more active today than normal; tonight is full moon and apparently lunar cycles affect volcanic activity. Little explosions spew sulphuric gas in your direction which makes it difficult to breathe and quickly drives you away from the rim. The tour guide pops the cork from a bottle of champagne and you toast a successful climb with your fellow hikers. You start the trek back down, this time donning ski pants and sliding down the mountain on your butt in toboggan-like fashion - a much faster and more enjoyable way to descend. The whole trek takes 10 hours, you're exhausted at the end ... but you've successfully bagged another volcanic mountain!
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                                        Courtesy of Jennifer Bowden

 It's about 10 degrees cooler here than in Santiago, thanks to the coastal breeze, and it was a very nice walk, past stupendous, soaring late-nineteenth century architecture squished up next to very modern glass-fronted buildings and burnt-out shells where I imagine heroin junkies congregate. Valpo is first and foremost a working port, although the tourists are trying hard to take over. Got my map from the local tourist info booth, and sat on the pier with a flaky, caramel-coated pastry/cookie thing from a street vendor (haven't yet had any bad food here- most of it's wonderful. And have I mentioned the ice cream? It's everywhere!). Watched the seagulls fight with pigeons over bits of food. Watched the giant cranes unload a giant Middle Eastern Ship (its name was in Arabic, anyway). Watched the stevedores (on an ice cream break) offer lewd commentary to passing women, and local boat owners compete to drum up business for harbor tours. By then, my foot was definitely complaining more loudly, and I thought it would be wise to not go tearing off all over the hills of the town at that point. The primary residential areas of Valpo are up in the hills around the much flatter port/downtown business district; some are perched right on what are basically cliffs. A series of "ascensores"- part railroad, part elevator, built between 1883 and 1915- get people up and down the steepest bits, and are a big tourist draw. more...

MemoryBook Update

Thank you again to all of our Beta test participants.  We have worked out (hopefully) all the kinks of our unique MemoryBook Wizard and have been experimenting with a number of different processes to complete the pdf in different sizes, print and ship.    I thank you all for your patience in awaiting the final product and am thrilled with the prospects.  I will let you know as soon as we have a go-live date.  

Best wishes,

The MyTripJournal team