Puerto Montt

First a note about the ferry ride.   Our three day, four night ferry experience was a welcome break from the get up and travel every day we had done earlier.  Three meals a day but this was not a normal cruise.   No casino, no free wine or soft drinks, just beautiful scenery and a one hour nature talk about the area every other day.  And every once in a while we would go to the back of the ship and check on the cows loaded in trailers.  They got to stand rib eye to steak for the four day ride.

With 12 hours in open ocean Denyse spent a few hour seasick but recovered quickly.  We traveled past islands, thru islands within about 20 meters of "the hard" on either side.   Didn{t see another glacier but watched the milky water from one draw a line across the ocean water as they slowly merge.  The ferry stopped at the town of Eden, Chile for the weekly supply run.  No dock so the townspeople come out in their small boats to take on supplies and I suppose send some commerce back.  Ferry is only connection for this town to the rest of Chile. Basically this is my kind of cruise.

 After our ferry ride we arrived during the Night at Puerto Montt.  Puerto Montt is a booming commercial center with modern mall, auto dealerships and expanding salmon farming operation.  Dupont has a facility here for support the farming.

A short taxi ride and we and our luggage made it up to the hostel with an overview of the city.
As might be expected, very good seafood restaurants.

One day we ventured to the island of Chole which is a 3 hour bus ride and 10 minute ferry ride from Puerto Montt.  Home to several small towns including the town of Castro this is a vacation destination for many Santiago residents.  Main attractions include the summer festivals and the amazing wood work of the many churches.   Picked up a wool sweater for $25.

Here are someone elses pictures of Chole

http://www.hecktictravels.com/chiloe-chile-a-photo-essay

Next trip to Chile will include more time on Chole.

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