Puerto Montt,Chile

If your geography is terrible like mine, you would not know where Puerto Montt even is. Well it is on the west coast of Southern Chile. Recognised as the capital of the Northern Patagonia, it is known for the original inhabitants resisting the Spanish occupation and for the German influence in architecture. Many Germans settled in the area in 1853 and built German style houses.

The buildings near the port are quite rundown. Our guide is a resident and said the whole city has become dilapidated in the last 20 years and many people have moved to local outer areas. Some of the streets certainly show this lack of tlc.

There was a dance school practicing on the waterfront. They are certainly skilful and the music makes you want to dance , doesn’t it.

There are monuments to famous people. I really should have started Spanish lessons earlier to be able to read them

This one I do understand as it is celebrating the train linking the port with the capital, Santiago.

I’m sure there are more interesting sights here but we are on our way to Puerto Varas.

The village Ensenada is in the shores of Llanquihue lake. This is huge …about 160km if you drive around it. It is a tourist town but not an exciting one as it seems to be a jumping off place for other activities.

How’s this for a reflection?

Many of the larger houses near the waterfront are now restaurants or businesses . There are rose and other flower beds dividing up the streets.

As you would expect with any tourist town , there are souvenir shops. Most have knits or small objects but these were a little different.

No I didn’t buy them….unique yes, expensive yes, and I’m not sure where they would go when I downsize. Did you buy anything? No?

Frutillar is much more interesting I think. As the new concert hall extends over the lake and is a prominent feature of the town, a music theme has taken hold. The roof was donated by an Australian company with copper interests in Chile.

Unlike Ensenada, the German style houses here are a dominant feature and many of them seem to be still occupied as a home. There is a map showing all of them.

We had time to look at a few

We briefly saw Puntiagudo volcano as the clouds lifted. Did you take a photo?

The sands here are black but children don’t seem fussy even if you and I find it a bit chilly.

I am not sure it is safe to go on the sand here….does the sign say you will be deported?

Back to the ship. We are sailing towards the Chilean Fjords for the next two days. we have been warned that it may be misty so no complaining if you have photos of fog and not glaciers.