While Europe is bathing in the summer sun is the other end of the world going through winter. As Monday June 28 is a public holiday in Chile and hence creating a long weekend for us, we decided to take advantage of the extra day and spontaneously drive to the south without any real destination in mind. As the kilometres grew higher, also the destination started to form itself. Three Austrians and a Finn were heading to the Andes for a skiing holiday!
Carla was receiving the guests of the first hotel we stayed in, the ridiculously over priced Nevados de Chillán. Fortunately dinner, breakfast and the ski ticket were included in the price, and I was even able to negotiate the costs down a bit.
The thermal pool invited the daring guests to dip in - luckily it was as warm as bathing water.
Lukas healing himself in the thermal water. After the morning bath we got ready to rent some skis and pants and go enjoy the sunshine in the slope.
Slightly different view than over the Alpes. Do you notice the volcano in the far back?
Do you remember our first Andean skiing day experience with all the snow? Luckily this time the weather was on our side and the slopes were wide and bright, giving us the most ideal conditions for skiing.
Am I a pro or what? Huh?! ;)
At dusk we decided it's time to change locations and so we drove to the coast to Concepcion, the epicentre of February's 8.8 earthquake.
Men on water somewhere between Concepcion and Talcahuano. The second night we stayed at a nice hotel/casino in Talcahuano where we got lucky in roulette and won enough to pay the costs of the first night!
By the sea.
Street art. Or not. The effects of the earthquake (February 27) were still to be seen, especially on the streets. Bridges were broken, asphalt was partly missing and traffic lights were hanging. The detours caused by the road blocks were challenging our little road adventure in Concepcion.
Already on the way back to north on Ruta 5. Autostrada, exciting Chile-Brazil match on radio and the beautiful mountains in the horizon made the driver's gas foot heavy, which also the local carabineros noticed... Oops! I hope I managed to blink our way out. :D
Carla was receiving the guests of the first hotel we stayed in, the ridiculously over priced Nevados de Chillán. Fortunately dinner, breakfast and the ski ticket were included in the price, and I was even able to negotiate the costs down a bit.
The thermal pool invited the daring guests to dip in - luckily it was as warm as bathing water. 
Lukas healing himself in the thermal water. After the morning bath we got ready to rent some skis and pants and go enjoy the sunshine in the slope.
Slightly different view than over the Alpes. Do you notice the volcano in the far back?
Do you remember our first Andean skiing day experience with all the snow? Luckily this time the weather was on our side and the slopes were wide and bright, giving us the most ideal conditions for skiing. 
Am I a pro or what? Huh?! ;)
At dusk we decided it's time to change locations and so we drove to the coast to Concepcion, the epicentre of February's 8.8 earthquake.
Men on water somewhere between Concepcion and Talcahuano. The second night we stayed at a nice hotel/casino in Talcahuano where we got lucky in roulette and won enough to pay the costs of the first night! 
By the sea. 
Street art. Or not. The effects of the earthquake (February 27) were still to be seen, especially on the streets. Bridges were broken, asphalt was partly missing and traffic lights were hanging. The detours caused by the road blocks were challenging our little road adventure in Concepcion. 
Already on the way back to north on Ruta 5. Autostrada, exciting Chile-Brazil match on radio and the beautiful mountains in the horizon made the driver's gas foot heavy, which also the local carabineros noticed... Oops! I hope I managed to blink our way out. :D
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