Heading South

 

 

 

Valdivia:

Rainy college town with good beer and coffee.

 

Thank you, Lonely Planet, for leading me to the fish market where the sea lions congregate.

 

In the 19th century, Germans settled here.  This museum also had mapuche (indigenous) artifacts.

Germans brought the artisanal beer, college students bring the hippie food.  Check out this falafel.

Straight to my heart.

My good friend.

 

Puerto Montt: 

Where the road ends, and Patagonia begins.

 

 

I went back on the ferry: nine hours from Puerto Montt to Chaitén.  The other options are a) 12 hour bus via Argentina, Puerto Montt to Palena,  b) [new] flight from Puerto Montt to Chaitén, c) overshoot flying to Coyhaique, 12 hr bus north to Palena (that’s what I did in February).

Puerto Montt was not as ugly as I’d expected, probably because a) It was the one day a year it wasn’t raining and more importantly, b) I met up with Palena friends Ariel & Alejandra.  Just when the cold and the scent of wood smoke in the air were signaling the end of vacation — and getting me down — I had friends again.  We also ran into the principal in the supermarket, who informed us that the boat was delayed until the morning.  Ariel and Alejandra tucked me into a hotel for the night, and at 6:45 I arrived at the boat terminal, only to find half of Palena there waiting (well, at least a dozen people I know — students, teachers, etc).

The great thing about a boat is you can walk around, get some air.

 

Chaitén:

Capital of Palena province before 2008 volcano & birthplace of many of my best students

 

The town.  Notice what looks like a beach?  That’s volcano ash.

Arriving at the dock.  Notice the little white cloud on the left?  That’s the still-active volcano.  A four hour bus ride later, I was back in Palena.

 

Winter Vacation:

Buenos Aires and a bit of Chile

A) Palena

B) Esquel (July 8-9)

C) Buenos Aires (July 9 – 17)

D) Santiago (July 17- 24)

E) Valparaíso (July 24 – 27)

F) Valdivia (July 28 -29)

G) Puerto Montt (July 29- 30)

H) Chaitén (July 30)