Chilean lakes district, local food, couchsurfing

We've entered the world famous Chilean lakes district. It's rather pretty: lakes with the Andes and volcanos behind them, nice farming country, friendly small towns. 

We are avoiding big cities and enjoying shopping from local farmers and local stores. We finally found some great cheese which we bought from a farmer who had a faded sign on the road. And we got smoked salmon from another roadside business. 

And now we are couchsurfing. Couchsurfing (couchsurfing.org) is where each member has a profile and as you travel you can request to stay with local members, and when you are at home you can host. I have been a host at home, and a guest in multiple countries. Each time you participate you write and receive a reference. 

H and I don't need places to stay (we have the house on wheels), but we were finding that we just don't meet locals as we travel around. So, we've been looking for hosts who are not in a city centre, where we can park and camp, and join them for some conversation. At the moment we are just outside of a small lakeside town being hosted by a young couple who are really nice. Being hosted also gives us a chance to clean up bit and for H to do some mechanics. 

We also have 2 more hosts lined up for the next week. 

Looking across Lake Calafquen at what I believe is Villaricca Volcano (in snow).