Puerto Montt Chile

Our first port of call was Puerto Montt Chile. Southern Chile was settled primarily by Germans in the mid-1800's. The area of Puerto Montt was covered by a dense forest.We invested in an excursion at every port. The main reason we cruise is to visit places... and we want to see those places. For each excursion, we try to pick one that will take us as far away from the port as we can afford to go. This gets us out of the town or city and gives us a taste of what the area has to offer.
 So in Puerto Montt, we took a motorcoach through the Chilean countryside to an inland lake, Todos los Santos. Because of the amount of algae in the water, it is nicknamed Emerald Lake. The shores of Emerald Lake are beautiful black sand beaches. From Emerald Lake, you can see two of Chile's spectacular volcanos: Puntiagudo and Osorno. Unfortunately, while we were there it was overcast and cloudy. No volcanoes were out that day. 


After taking a catamaran across the beautiful lake, we went to Petrohue Falls. These are more a series of cascades more than falls. But they are spectacular. The roar of the water gave a hint to its power as the water rushed through the lava chutes. Again, this water was green. It reminded me of the bluish-green of old glaciers. And it was clear. Where the water was still, you could see all the way down to the rocky bottom. 

Our next stop was at a farm in the Chilean countryside for lunch. Because of the German influence in Chile, the entire meal was German, including the Kuchen for dessert. In the ladies' room, there was a tiny grey and white kitten. Even though I am deathly allergic, I couldn't resist picking up this purring bundle of fur. As I was taking care of business, I felt something tickle my bare thigh. I didn't realize Kitty had come into the stall with me. Scared the crap out of me!! (Ha!) I'm sure this was a ploy in order to find Kitty a home. They also had llamas and rheas and a baby deer - not in the bathroom... out on the lawn. There were mountains in the background and Lake Llanquihue in the foreground. The dining room had floor to ceiling windows with wooden plank walls and wooden beams on the ceiling. This is what I want our B&B to look like if we go to Costa Rica. 

The next stop was Puerto Vera, a quaint, German town on the shores of Lake Llanquihue. The area of Puerto Vera was covered by a dense forest. In fact, the forest was so dense, the settlers didn't know the second largest lake in Chile, Lake Llanquihue, was right in front of them. As they would move into the forest to explore, they would become lost and many would not return. The locals sometimes call Lake Llanquihue The Hidden Lake.

We were let out briefly to shop at a little outdoor bazaar of local artisan crafts. Buyer beware! Even though you think you are at a bazaar of local artisan crafts, read the labels! I bought several very nice scarves to give as gifts that I was told were alpaca. The label says they are acrylic and silk. A couple of sweaters I bought really are alpaca, but they were advertised as handmade. At best these were knit by hand on a loom. No way were these hand knit. Plus, they were the same sweaters at another local artisan bazaar in Argentina. These people probably think, "Stupid Americans!" One lady at the bazaar in Argentina told a fellow traveler that her madre had made the very same sweater that I had purchased in Chile. Her madre must be a very busy woman. And she sure gets around!