I am also surprised at the number of American products here. Just yesterday when we were coming home from the rafting trip in a big van, I heard Back Street Boys singing As Long As You Love Me. I was astonished at the fact that some of the spanish speakers here in Pucon, sing along to these American songs, people without an american backround at all. On Thursday we began an overnight hike to El Cani. The NGO helps develop capital to buy up land to preserve the ancient forest from logging and burning.
Fees paid to local guides help develop local communities.
The hike took us high up into the mountains above Pucon and eventually to an old growth forest with Araucaria trees. These trees can be 2000 years old and are awe inspiring. The kids struggled a bit with the pace but hung in there nicely. At sundown, Chris, our guide Modesto, Diane, our Spanish teacher, and Saul, an American volunteer, and Doug climbed a steep trail to a rock peak. From this vantage point we could see the mountains of Argentina , Villarica and three volcanos, The view was majestic.