Tour by GV Stein! I had talked to Gail several times and we were really looking forward to the wonderful day he had planned. The rain and poor road conditions called for some modifications. Gail's lovely daughter - Victoria and friend entertained with a traditional Chilean Dance. Photo of our group during a wonderful lunch of local salmon. Great lunch! Darrell is pictured with Gail. We enjoyed meeting Gail's wife Veronica! Gail and Veronica made us feel very welcome- almost like family.
"PUERTO MONTT IS A CITY OF OVER 185,000 PEOPLE AND IS NOTEWORTHY AS THE CAPITAL OF CHILE’S TENTH REGION WHICH INCLUDES THE WELL-KNOWN LAKE DISTRICT. ITS PORT SERVES AS THE SHIPPING POINT FOR MANY OF ITS LOCALLY PRODUCED PRODUCTS, MAINLY LUMBER AND ITS BY-PRODUCTS AS WELL AS AN ABUNDANCE OF LOCALLY FARM-RAISED SALMON.
AFTER TRAVELING SEVERAL MILES OVER THE PAN-AMERICAN HIGHWAY, WE ENTER THE RICH AGRICULTURAL PART OF THE REGION WHERE THERE ARE MANY FARMS AND RANCHES WITH SEVERAL VARIETIES OF LIVESTOCK, INCLUDING LLAMAS AND EMUS. OUR ITINERARY INCLUDES A STOP AT THE BAVARIAN-STYLED VILLAGE OF FRUITILLAR WHICH OVERLOOKS OUR COUNTRY’S LARGEST LAKE, LAGO LLANQUIHUE, WITH THE NEAR-CONICAL, SNOW-CAPPED VOLCANO, MT OSORNO, IN THE BACKGROUND.
WE INCLUDE A VISIT TO THE TOWN OF PUERTO VARAS, ALSO ON THE LAKE AND KNOWN AS THE CITY OF ROSES. ITS ORIGINS ARE GERMAN AS WELL SINCE IMMIGRANTS FROM THAT COUNTRY CAME TO THE REGION IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY WITH THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF OUR GOVERNMENT TO SETTLE AND DEVELOP THIS POTENTIALLY RICH PART OF CHILE, WHICH UNTIL THEN HAD BEEN OVERLOOKED.
THE TOUR CONTINUES ITS WAY ALONG THE LAKE WITH OSORNO VIRTUALLY ALWAYS IN VIEW. THIS BRINGS US TO THE RESTAURANT WHERE A THREE-COURSE MEAL, WITH WINE.
WE VISIT THE VICENTE PEREZ ROSALES NATIONAL PARK AND THE PETROHUE FALLS AND RAPIDS. THIS UNIQUE SITE IS CLOSE TO THE ANDES AND IN THE SHADOW OF OSORNO. IT IS A VERY RESTFUL AND RELAXING NATURAL PHENOMENON AND INCLUDES QUAINT SHOPS WITH INTERESTING LOCAL HANDICRAFTS AND CLOTHING. (DEPENDING ON ROAD CONDITIONS, WE NEXT VISIT LAGO TODOS LOS SANTOS, ALSO KNOWN AS EMERALD LAKE. THE ROAD TO THIS AREA IS UNPAVED AND TRAVERSES A LAVA FIELD WHICH SOME FIND A BIT UNCOMFORTABLE.)
FROM HERE WE BEGIN OUR RETURN TO PUERTO MONTT’S DOCK AREA. THERE IS USUALLY AMPLE TIME FOR OUR GUESTS TO SHOP FOR HANDICRAFTS, WINES AND OTHER LOCALLY PRODUCED ITEMS OF INTEREST, WITHIN EASY WALKING DISTANCE OF THE PORT ENTRANCE, BEFORE RETURNING TO THEIR SHIP.
WE ARE NOW BEGINNING OUR EIGTH SEASON WITH OUR MAINLY FAMILY-OPERATED TOUR BUSINESS. DURING THIS TIME WE HAVE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY OF MEETING MANY NEW FRIENDS, AND HAVE DONE OUR BEST TO ACQUAINT EVERYONE WITH A PART OF CHILE WE CALL “HOME”!
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