(C) Matt Smink
In both AP English and English 2, we have learned the term “anachronistic”: an object, phrase, idea or person that is misplaced in time. For example, Shakespeare reference to Clocks in Julias Ceasar is anachronistic, because clocks did not actually exist during that time period. (I was relieved to hear that even Shakespeare made mistakes.) We learned the word at the Siete Tazs, but we did not experience the word until we spent a week at a lodge high up on the Achibueno river. It was as if we stepped backward in time 100 years, to a time where the fireplace- the sole provider of heat and light- was the natural gathering spot for the family, and dinner cooked over it was caught and killed in the backyard.
The lodge was made of roughly hewn wooden planks and stone, heavy and dark. The main room was dominated by a huge fire place surrounded on three sides by mattress covered benches. The tables and chairs were sturdy, the color of molasses. Every piece was made by hand, and although no two things were quite the same, the room had the most elegant, rugged harmony to it. A small kitchen was tucked into one corner with two over sized kettles sat on the gas burners like fat hens in their hen house, producing a constant supply of steam and hot water for our endless cups of tea and coffee. Onions hung from the hooks on the wall alongside strings of red linked sausages. It was in this kitchen that all our meals were prepared, by the innkeeper, Christian, his girlfriend Angie and their friend Horje. Angie wore a spotless, lime green apron with big red polka dots and a picture of Whinnie the Pooh. It said POOH in large letters. Talk about anachronistic!
Our meals were as delicious as you would imagine them to be amongst the animal pastures and pure Chilean air. The first course was lettuce, shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes and green peppers all drizzled in oil and lemon juice. Then there was soup, hot cheese soup and tomato soup, and a main course of cheese and rice stuffed eggplant, fried potatoes, zucchini pancakes, pasta with mushrooms and homemade sauce. And that’s just for the vegetarians- I was too buy eating to even ask what the carnivores were eating!
Just like Siete Tazas, the electricity came on in the evenings for a few hours, providing two bright white lights (that did very little enervate to the darkness) and power our computers, Ipods and cameras. However, as the week continued, we spent less and less time with these things, with the obvious exception of our cameras. Downloaded movies gave way to marathon games of Uno, Ipods were forgotten as Tino and Andy took requests on their fiddle and guitar. When it rained all day, and the steam on the windows rivaled the smoke in the chimney, I could have sworn we were in some sort of cozy heaven, wherein existed only books, games, earl grey tea and French press coffee.
Although it was tempting (speaking strictly for me) to stay inside the lodge all day stirring up embers and reading, we did venture outside every day to go kayaking and hike the shuttles. The river was clear, blue and granite studded. Although I am better at describing the river in terms of ascetics instead of paddler’s terminology, I can safely say that it was the busiest, most continuous, slot-move-ridden, boof-happy river we’ve ever been on. The first day we ran the lower section, and it was about 9 miles of non stop rapids. Some were class three, some were class four, and all required constant vigilance. This was not the sort of river where you could point your nose in one general direction and go. It was move! Move! Move! Right stroke, left stroke, left stroke, boof! Twisting between boulders and shooting through slots for hours and hours.
At night, exhausted from the rio, we brushed our teeth in candlelight and lay down in our tents to read the novels that we love so much for the best English class, ever. Some of the boys slung hammocks between trees, and when it rained they rigged an elaborate (and not entirely watertight) tarp system to create a hovel we referred to as “The Man Cove.”
So much more to write! But I’m out of time on the internet! I hope this will assuage your need for daydreaming material until I am in Pucon. We are still very happy, remarkably healthy, and no one can believe our trip is actually winding down! Nooo!!!
We are so very thankful for all of you,
(C) Taylor Cote
