The passage along the South American Coast with first gale
force wind and head-on swell is over in Puerto Montt, a relatively ‘quiet’
harbour to drop anchor. Due to the harsh sea conditions, the ship had to slow
down, hence arrived a few hours later than scheduled. But, as the next leg to
Puerto Castro is very short (a ferry can make it in half an hour) we extended
our stay into the early twilight hours of the evening.
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| Fishing boat on the dry at low tide |
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| Food Festival cook preparing empanadas |
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| Going clam digging |
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| Spectator Stands |
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| Awaiting Left Overs... |
I have been in this port a few times, and enjoyed Chilean
rodeos, strolling along the lower slopes of a snow covered volcano, wandered
the quaint streets of Puerto Varas, and dodged the spray of Petrohue Rapids. So
this time I stayed ‘in town’ and discovered a very picturesque area of Puerto
Montt. To be accurate, the small island called Tengola which protects Puerto
Montt proper.
After wandering a few hundred yards along the waterfront, in
direction away from the town (future cruisers note!) one passed through a long
row of Artisan shops, which offered the usual collection of Llama wool
sweaters, carved penguins and souvenirs. From across the shallow channel
separating the mainland from the Island one heard music and singing. I inquired
about the sounds of ‘fiesta’ in progress, and indeed, a local food festival was
in full Saturday morning swing over there, and little fishing skiffs took local
families over the channel to join the general fun.
Of course, yours truly was not far behind. A kingly sum of
500 pesos (1US$ equivalent) bought me a crossing in a brightly coloured row
boat, which I shared with another lady from the Prinsendam, and a few Puerto
Montters.
On the Island, one walked for a quarter of an hour along a
beach, serving as a parking lot for local fishing boats, and boat yard for
construction and repair. A flat area
above the beach had turned into a fair ground, with a make shift stage and dance
floor at one end, painted truck tires serving as spectator seating, a long row
of food tents at the opposite end and what seemed to be a community hall
offering sanitary services of a basic kind (200 pesos a visit including a small
wad of toilet paper).
Great spot for a leisurely Saturday festival morning. A
little beach combing, a little people watching, a little regatta watching (the
local sailing clubs held a competition in the quiet lively weather conditions
outside the protected harbour), a little music and watching the local folkloric
dancing, and a mid-afternoon cerveza in one of the food tents made for a
pleasant day ashore.
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| Dinghy on Tenglo Beach |
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| Ever present volcanoes behind the fishing village on Tenglo Island |
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| Osorno Volcano |
