Stranded at the Drive-In (ie: Pucon), branded a fool, what will they think, Monday at

THE VOLCANO!!! I finally hiked the 9,000 foot lava spitting hill on Monday. It was a highly anticipated event, which took four days of 6am wake ups (only to be told to go back to bed 3 of those days), three boxes of Nestle Fitness & Fruits and 5 mostly sleepless nights on a non-regulation bed.

Friday's and Saturday's hikes were cancelled due to rain. Sunday did not have a cloud in the sky, but my hike was cancelled because the guide forgot to show up. Monday more than made up for the lack of clouds on Sunday, but surprisingly (and thankfully) the hike was not cancelled.

Even with the 40 mph winds, snow and the inability to see beyond 30 feet for most of the day, the hike was great. The guide service provided all the gear to look like a professional nerd, highlighted by the bright orange and royal blue two piece suit with matching mittens and neck warmer, accented nicely with a teal helmet, ice ax and crampons. All and all, the hike was an unmitigated success. As was the next available bus from Pucon.

The night before I left Pucon however, an Austrian Couple took the Hostel Del Lago plunge (checked in) and were outwardly pissed off at the time of arrival. Their displeasure was not because Austria failed to qualify for the world cup, but rather their $4,000 camera had just been stolen on the bus ride into Pucon. The couple was 7 months into their three year traveling trip around the world. (This, like a 500-year time capsule, seems a little excessive).

They were shown to their room, and I went to the Bar with Hector (the hostel owner), Olan (a fighter pilot from Israel who waited 7 days to hike the Volcano), and two Israeli girls. A few sips into the night, the Austrian couple stormed into the bar and started berading Hector alleging that someone broke into their room [at.... the Hostel Del Lago] and stole a jacket and their travelers checks. Having just received a mug of Heinekin, Hector went back to the Hostel to deal with the situation and the police. Upon his return to the bar, he surmised that they made it all up just to get the insurance on their camera (which has a similar street value with my car.. '98 Passat Wagon* if anyone wants it).

Anyway, the fat lady has sung for the Austrians, who, after 7 months, have become fed up with the traveling life and purchased tickets home, cutting their trip short by 880 days.

*If you are pondering the typical demographic of a Passat Wagon driver, please note that I am NOT a middle-aged woman.