Off the Gringo Trail

I seem to have left the Gringo Trail. I can't see why, Valdivia is just like Chelmsford and everyone who comes to England visits Chelmsford, right?

Chelmsford has less shoddy buildings but nowhere near as good wildlife. Now I'm a bit over sealions, but seeing them hanging out next to a building site was amusingly incongruous. I also liked the large amount of hawks hanging out in the fishmarket, you don't get that in High Chelmer.

Yesterday, whilst still in Pucon, I was firmly on the Gringo Trail, doing the tried and tested hike to the top of the Villarica Volcano. Crampons. Ice axe. Well mountain. Harder work than I expected mind; think Day 2 Inca Trail only with ankle deep snow, sheet ice and toxic air. Yummy. Didn't get to see any lava (just leaky gas smoke - rubbish) but did get to slide down the mountain afterwards.

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Anyone who does want to visit Chelmsford send me $100 in Chilean currency in a stamped address envelope and I'll sort you out with some traveller tips. The main one being, "Don't go to Chelmsford."