| Santiago (Chile) to Bariloche (Argentina) - 11 & 12 Jan |
On our bus ride from the Kennedy Hotel to the Santiago airport our bus stopped at a tourist gem
shop two blocks from our hotel; we remained at the tourist shop 45 minutes before continuing to the
airport, where we arrived two hours before flight departure. At the Santiago airport we liked the
two baggage exhibits shown below.
shop two blocks from our hotel; we remained at the tourist shop 45 minutes before continuing to the
airport, where we arrived two hours before flight departure. At the Santiago airport we liked the
two baggage exhibits shown below.
Artistic baggage display in Santiago Airport
Artistic baggage monument in Santiago Airport
We flew to Puerto Mott, about 600 miles (about 1,000km) south of Santiago. At the airport we were
met by the local SmarTours guide, who immediately bused us to the tourist "craft market" on the
waterfront. Virginia and I wandered away from the shops to have a look at some of the small
cargo/passenger boats and fishing boats along the pier, and to converse with some of the crew
members.
met by the local SmarTours guide, who immediately bused us to the tourist "craft market" on the
waterfront. Virginia and I wandered away from the shops to have a look at some of the small
cargo/passenger boats and fishing boats along the pier, and to converse with some of the crew
members.
Tourist conversing with fisherman, Puerto Mott, Chile
The harbor at Puerto Mott, Chile
We also spent a few minutes at the casino in Puerto Mott, which contained only mechanical and
electronic games of "chance", no live games. Most interesting to us was the miniature mechanical
horse race. You could electronically bet as you would at a customary race track, but instead of live
horses the betting was on little mechanical horses going around the table-top track.
electronic games of "chance", no live games. Most interesting to us was the miniature mechanical
horse race. You could electronically bet as you would at a customary race track, but instead of live
horses the betting was on little mechanical horses going around the table-top track.
In Puerto Varas looking across the bay at the
bright lights of the Cabanas Del Lago Hotel
bright lights of the Cabanas Del Lago Hotel
Mechanical horses running around the
track at the Puerto Montt Casino
track at the Puerto Montt Casino
After about half an hour at the tourist "craft market" we were bused about twenty miles (33km) to
Puerto Varas, a delightful lakefront town. We checked into the "Cabanas del Lago", a traditional
lodge-type hotel overlooking the beautiful mountain lake and small town of Puerto Varas.
After a great salmon dinner at the hotel Virginia and I walked down toward the center of town where
we found a band of 15 to 20 amateur musicians on a stage in a large open-sided tent playing for
several hundred seated people. The "big band" music was really great, and free, obviously enjoyed
by the large audience consisting almost exclusively of Chilean and Argentinian tourists. What a
pleasant surprise! From posters in town we could see that the band plays there six evenings per
week, sponsored by the municipality of Puerto Varas as a tourist attraction.
Puerto Varas, a delightful lakefront town. We checked into the "Cabanas del Lago", a traditional
lodge-type hotel overlooking the beautiful mountain lake and small town of Puerto Varas.
After a great salmon dinner at the hotel Virginia and I walked down toward the center of town where
we found a band of 15 to 20 amateur musicians on a stage in a large open-sided tent playing for
several hundred seated people. The "big band" music was really great, and free, obviously enjoyed
by the large audience consisting almost exclusively of Chilean and Argentinian tourists. What a
pleasant surprise! From posters in town we could see that the band plays there six evenings per
week, sponsored by the municipality of Puerto Varas as a tourist attraction.
The band on stage, Puerto Varas, Chile
Evening band concert in the park, Puerto Varas, Chile
Early next morning we started crossing the high Andes from Puerto Varas to Bariloche via a series of
three or four lakes, each connected by rough roads to the next lake. The Alpine scenery was
magnificent, including snow-topped mountains, waterfalls, cliffs jagged peaks, etc. For details
regarding this interesting bus & ferry trip please see: www.crucedelagos.cl.
three or four lakes, each connected by rough roads to the next lake. The Alpine scenery was
magnificent, including snow-topped mountains, waterfalls, cliffs jagged peaks, etc. For details
regarding this interesting bus & ferry trip please see: www.crucedelagos.cl.
Tourists at Andean mountain stream between
Puerto Varas (Chile) and Bariloche (Argentina)
Puerto Varas (Chile) and Bariloche (Argentina)
Andean stream and snow-capped mountain between
Puerto Varas (Chile) and Bariloche (Argentina)
Puerto Varas (Chile) and Bariloche (Argentina)
Passenger cabin of the lake ferry
Boat crew placing passenger luggage in metal
containers for loading aboard the lake ferry
containers for loading aboard the lake ferry
Our friend Hugh sharing a laugh
with a Chilean tourist. An
example of good international
relations.
with a Chilean tourist. An
example of good international
relations.
We arrived in Bariloche around 8:30pm and checked into the Hotel Edelweiss which has a good in-town
location. A luxury suite was assigned to us, consisting of a reception/office room, bedroom, two-room
bath, vibrating lounge chairs, real flowers in vases, and a fifth floor view of the lake bordered by
snow-capped peaks.
location. A luxury suite was assigned to us, consisting of a reception/office room, bedroom, two-room
bath, vibrating lounge chairs, real flowers in vases, and a fifth floor view of the lake bordered by
snow-capped peaks.
View from our room in the Hotel Edelweiss,
Bariloche, Argentina
Bariloche, Argentina