Onward we sail, Chile is calling. There was a presentation about our next port, Puerto Arenas. There are a few interesting things here but it is not a big city or a large port of call. Mostly research ships outfitting for Antarctic expeditions, so we are not expecting much. We are just going to go ashore and wing it. This is our last dock landing until San Antonio (not the one in Texas).
Once we get to the end of the dock you meet the usual group of tour hawkers and people selling stuff but this time it feels a little different. There is no pressure from anyone and generally if you don’t engage with them they don’t bother you, a little different than most places we have been.
Jane and I have decided we want to see specific things, the Nao Victoria, the Museo, the cemetery and the market. Short discussion and we have a car for $20 an hour! The Nao Victoria is furthest so we head there first.
The Nao Victoria is the ship that Ferdinand Magellan sailed around the world (this one is an exact replica). I’ll let you do the research about the voyage on your own. Sufficed to say 5 ships and 268 men set out and one ship and 18 men finished.
The ship is amazing. I just wanted to see what those nuts went around the world in. You can walk across the deck in 10 steps! I have to hand it to those sailers, they were rugged. It is really unbelievable that they would challenge the ocean, let alone the Cape of Good Hope and Cape Horn in one of these incredibly small ships.
Captains cabin
After this we found the HMS Beagle! A replica of course but still fun to explore. Not a lot bigger than the Victoria but noticeably roomier and slightly more modern. Still, not something I would set out to sail the world in if I had the choice.
Enough seagoing stuff, let’s go see the museum. It is an historic museum dealing with the growth of agriculture and society in the area. We drove to it, had a cursory look, then told the driver to take us to the cemetery. The museum is small and looks fairly like any museum in small town Alberta. We decided there was no benefit to walking through it, they use a lot of the same tools (tractors, trucks, plows etc) that you can find anywhere.
The cemetery was specifically pointed out. It was originally intended to be a park like place where people could come to stroll, have picnics and spend time with the family, above ground or not. As well Sara Braun built it and is interred there. She is as famous here as Evita in Buenos Aires. If you want to know more about her you’ll have to turn to the web. The cemetery is quite pretty and well maintained.
All that’s left now is the Mercado. The small local market near the dock. It is a little surprising that they did not mention it on the boat. It is small but there is a lot of local crafts and art here. There is a lot of wool and wool products. Alpaca sweaters, slippers and socks, probably too warm for me but I am sure they would suit a Canadian winter very well. There are a number of very local restaurants as well. We need grub!
A sweet little restaurant (little being the key word, the kitchen is above). Good Chilean beer and Jane had a Pisco Sour. Pisco is a Peruvian spirit that they also make here, it’s quite strong. The food is amazing, a couple of crab and seafood empanadas and seafood soup! A lot for lunch and so delicious. Every time you dip your spoon in out come mussels and scallops.
We bought a few things here, the prices are so good. You can get an Alpaca touque for $10. And Jane got some inspiration for an Afghan!
Well so ends a good day, Chile is so different a feel than Argentina. We are looking forward to a relaxed rest of the cruise and our time in Chile.
Comments
Post a Comment