Sunday, January 15, 2006
Not too much to report. Yesterday we traveled from Pucon in the
northern part of the Lake District first to Valdivia, and then to Puerto
Octay where we are now.
Valdivia is a small city on a river just inland from the coast. There
is a wonderful market there on Saturday, and we had a good time
strolling at the market which has an amazing selection of fish of all
sizes and kinds. There are many fishmongers who yell out to you trying
to get you to buy, and there are loads of vegetable stalls as well. The
whole thing is on the riverbank and lots of fun. We had lunch at a
floating restaurant on the river—fresh fish, and very good.
As we arrived at our hotel in Puerto Octay the rain began, and it was
like a tropical downpour, but it went on all evening, all night, and
into this morning. We had a poor dinner here at the hotel, and went to
bed. Our room is supposed to have a spectacular view of the volcanoes
across the lake, (Lake Llanquihue—try pronouncing that!) but they have
not been in view due to loads of clouds. Today we explored Frutillar,
Puerto Varas, and Puerto Montt, local towns, and the most excitement we
could round up was a handicraft market on the street which had many
stalls, most selling the same stuff. We did but a couple of things,
however. We also toured a very nicely done German heritage open-air
museum in Frutillar which gave us a good understanding of the role of
Germans in settling this area. It took place in the 1860’s, and the
stories are very reminiscent of the development of the US west.
We had a very late large lunch, and probably will not have dinner.
Joyce just had a kuchen—the area sells kuchen of all sorts
everywhere—remnant of the German heritage here.
Lots of excitement here with the election--Chile just may elect the
first woman president elected in her own right (not because of a
husband) in all of Latin America. Voting was today.
The plan for tomorrow is to tour Lago Llanquihue. The weather forecast
is excellent—I hope it’s accurate. If so, I should have great photos of
volcanoes that we have not seen yet.
That's all for now. Love to everyone.
Victor