The first thing you think when you see the Termas Puyehue Hotel is "the Shining". A massive rambling stone and wood complex sitting up on a hill overlooking a lake. The second thing you think of is the Catskills. While it is still a grand old hotel, sadly it has been dumbed down to activities and signage and buffets. My day pass allows me unrestricted access to the hot pools and all the facilities including unlimited food and beverage. Not a bad deal for about $50US. I also have a hot stone massage. There is scarcely anyone here except a group of college students on an exchange program from Arkansas - there are headed from Chilean Patagonia to Bariloche before heading to Vina del Mar to begin their semester abroad.
The weather did not turn out all that bad and I hope that bodes well for tomorrow. Berries and jams are big here so I bought a box of red raspberries at a roadside stand for Theresa - and my breakfast I hope!
My new friends at Cork insisted I come back for a special dinner tonight. I am really spent after the late night and the spa but I trudge on over. The Spanish chef Edu has prepared an extra heavy seafood paella for me - it is a huge serving but it is very good and I am grateful for the gesture. It seems he and Christian and Claudia are all a bit tired too (and they have other guests) so I make a quick exit for a good nights sleep.
Good night.
[there was a minor iPhone GPS malfunction today and I wound up miles from where I should have been. It didn't really cost me a lot of time and I had the benefit of seeing some part of a Chilean town that many others will never see - and I found my way to the spa. As I remarked to John this morning - poverty yes but dangerous no. The looting after the earthquake has been a big embarrassment here]
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