Santiago - Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas

Day 3 - Santiago - Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas

Santiago, Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas

Saturday, 24 August 2013

An early morning today as were up at 5am for a 6am snack. We arrived at the airport around 7am. Today, we said goodbye to our local guide, Roberto, but we will meet up with him again upon our return to Santiago in a Monty's time. Our LAN flight departed at 830am which left us an hour or so to kill at the airport.

We arrived at Puerto Montt at 10.15am The temperature was a cool 4 Celsius. We boarded our bus and headed into Puerto Montt. The city has a population of around 250,000 people and is predominantly a "factory" city. Most of the industry revolves around the salmon industry.

The city is divided into levels. We stopped at "Level 3" for our first look at the scenery. Spectacular views of the lower parts of the city and the two volcanoes. Osomo is a dormant volcano and Calbuco is an active volcano. We then travelled to "Level 1" and looked around the main part of town. We spent some time at the local fish and craft market. Luckily, these were both open as it was Saturday.

We stopped for lunch at Kiel. Great views, great meal and great company.

We continued our journey into Puerto Varas where we checked into the Solace Hotel. Fantastic accommodation overlooking the local Cathederal and within walking distance of the town square. There are lot of people in town as the 16th Marathon de Puerto Varas is due to be run tomorrow. Belinda and Lesley were considering booking in as part of the CPPS Principal's Challenge. A snow flake's chance in hell of that happening.

We walked down to the lake to take photos of the volcanoes. We were extremely lucky today as we had clear blue skies. Normally, this areas of the world has rain for two thirds of the year. We figured that we take some snaps with blue skies today as we don't know what tomorrow will bring.

	Puerto Montt Level 3 [Map]		Puerto Montt Level 3 [Map]
	Puerto Montt Level 3 [Map]		Puerto Montt Level 3 [Map]
	Puerto Montt Level 1 [Map]		Puerto Montt Level 1 [Map]
	Puerto Montt Level 1 [Map]		Puerto Montt Level 1 [Map]
	Puerto Montt Level 1 [Map]		Puerto Montt Level 1 [Map]
	Puerto Montt Fish Market [Map]		Puerto Montt Fish Market [Map]
	Puerto Montt Fish Market [Map]		Puerto Montt Fish Market [Map]
	Photo 1 [Map]		Puerto Varas - Solace Hotel [Map]
	Puerto Varas - Solace Hotel [Map]		Puerto Varas - Solace Hotel [Map]
	Puerto Varas - Solace Hotel [Map]		Puerto Varas - Solace Hotel [Map]
	Puerto Varas - Solace Hotel [Map]		Puerto Varas - Cathedral [Map]
	Puerto Varas - Marathon [Map]		Osomo Volcano [Map]
	Calbuco Volcano [Map]		Osomo Volcano [Map]
	Calbuco Volcano [Map]		Osomo Volcano [Map]
	Calbuco Volcano [Map]		Osomo and Calbuco Volcano [Map]
	Osomo and Calbuco Volcano [Map]		Puerto Varas [Map]
	Puerto Varas [Map]

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South America 2013

Day 2

Santiago

Friday, 23 August 2013

Today we travelled by bus for approximately 2 hours across the Coastal Mountain Range to Valparaiso. This is one of Santiago's most important seaports. The views were spectacular. The city was declared a World Heritage Site in 2003. It is built upon dozens of steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Valparaíso boasts a labyrinth of streets and cobblestone alleyways.

We rode a funicular to look out across the port. A funicular, also known as an inclined plane or cliff railway, is a cable railway in which a cable attached to a pair of tram-like vehicles on rails moves them up and down a steep slope; the ascending and descending vehicles counterbalance each other. 300 pesos each way. That's about 60 cents each way.

We then went to visit Pablo Neruda's house. The views from this house were spectacular. The house is built over 4 levels. Unfortunately, no photos were allowed inside.

We then travelled a short distance to Vina Del Mar for lunch at Fellini's and a short walk. Very different to Valparaiso. This was a modern town rather than the traditional Valparaiso. We saw an original Easter Island statue located outside the Fonck Museum.

	Funicular [Map]		Funicular [Map]
	Funicular [Map]		Valparaiso [Map]
	Valparaiso [Map]		Valparaiso [Map]
	Valparaiso - Pablo Neruda's house [Map]		Vina Del Mar [Map]
	Vina Del Mar [Map]		Vina Del Mar [Map]
	Vina Del Mar - Easter Island statue [Map]		Vina Del Mar - Nobel Prize winner [Map]
	Vina Del Mar [Map]		Vina Del Mar [Map]

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The Journey Begins

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Day 1 - The Journey Begins

Melbourne, Sydney, Auckland, Santiago

Thursday, 22 August 2013

We were up and on the go at "stupid o'clock" this morning and at Tullamarine by 345am. Nothing really opened up until 4am. I must say that Terry was extremely helpful at the check in counter and got us all sorted. There were some strange happenings with boarding passes but we were all good to go in the long run. Terry, you're the best.

A short flight to Sydney saw us arrive ahead of schedule and we were off to the International Terminal to go through customs. I must say the airport was very busy. People everywhere, heading off to all sorts of interesting places I am sure. Not really a lot of time in the airport. Just enough to have a quick look around the "cheap" duty free. Interestingly, the 8gb SD camera card in the airport was the same price as the 32gb card I bought in JB HiFi! Rip off!!!

2 hours and 40 minutes to New Zealand. I could my self nodding off during the emergency instructions from the cabin crew. Next thing I know, we've been in the air for half an hour and its time to eat once again.

Auckland Airport. Nice to be in transit. Stretch of the legs. Seems a bit silly that you have to go through security yet again. We're just getting off the plane and back on!!! Back on the plane and off to Chile. Eleven - twelve hours will not be fun, but it must be done!

Arrived in Santiago at about noon local time. That made it about 2am in the morning Melbourne time, so we had been up and about for just over 24 hours. A nice shower was in order which made me feel almost human. Mariana, our guide picked us up. We also met Roberto, our local guide for this part of the journey.

Mariana took us for a walk, we were able to exchange for some local currency and we went and had a look at Parque de las Esculturas (Sculptures in the Park). We could see the Gran Torre Santiago (Grand Santiago Tower). Stopped for a coffee and chat, then back to the hotel. Heading off for dinner about 730pm, then a good night's sleep! We have a late start tomorrow, leaving the hotel around 830.

On a side note, Ian and Bernie Davey. My retired business manager, Ian and Bernie Davies. For those who know my Ian and Bernie - what a coincidence!!!!!

	Melbourne Tullamarine [Map]		Tullamarine check-in [Map]
	LAN airlines [Map]		Map of South America [Map]
	Gran Torre Santiago [Map]		Gran Torre Santiago [Map]
	Gran Torre Santiago [Map]		Parque de las Esculturas [Map]
	Parque de las Esculturas [Map]		Parque de las Esculturas [Map]
	Parque de las Esculturas [Map]		Parque de las Esculturas [Map]
	Parque de las Esculturas [Map]		Mariana, Ian, Bernie [Map]
	Lesley, Jan, Ray, Wayne, Glenis [Map]		Brian, Mariana [Map]
	Gazza, Carolyn, Belinda [Map]

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