3-5 Puerto Montt, Chile

This morning we had to set our alarms for 630. We’re heading into Puerto Montt, our final stop in the Patagonia region of South America.  We'll be taking an excursion to the German settlement museum north of our Port.   So we shower, head out for breakfast, and return to the cabin to pick up our belongings before we head down to the Princess Theater to meet our excursion group. Dean and Pat will be on the excursion with us.

Puerto Montt is another tendered port.  Unfortunately for the tide is at it's lowest point right now and the tenders have been delayed for a bit.   It's not long before things are up and running and by 9:30 we’re on the bus and heading north on the Pan Pacific Highway. 

Our first stop is Puerta Vara, a quaint little town on the shores of Lake Llaquihue, the second largest lake in Chile. We’re only given 45 minutes to walk along the waterfront, use restrooms and anything else we would like to do.  It’s a cute little town that busily building it’s tourism and we could have easily spent more time there. But back to the bus we head for another 30 minute ride to Frutillar, a German settlement museum a bit further north.  

The Main Square of Puerto Montt

This dog was chill

The Waterfront

The shoreline of Lake Llaquihue.  
There was a volcano across the lake.
But we couldn't see it because of the low clouds.

Another shot of the waterfront.

In Frutillar, the bus first drives down the two parallel streets along the waterfront and our tour guide points out the museum and other points of interest we may want to visit.  Unfortunately we will only be at this location for one hour and like Puerto Vara, there just isn't enough time to see everything.  So we focus on the Museum, which was the main attraction for selecting this tour.  

The Museum recreates the life of the German settlers in the area in 1852. Settlers, who much like my ancestors left Germany to escape crop failure and persecution.  The museum consists of reconstructions of a Water Mill, Bell Tower, Blacksmith's House and workshop, the Country House, the Cemetery and the beautiful gardens.

We tour the Water Mill, Blacksmith's House and Country House which takes up most of the hour we have. And just like Puerto Montt, we're left wanting more time to explore. But we're no the bosses of the tour so we head back to the bus where we settle in for our ride back to the ship.  

Entry to the German Museum

The Watermill

Lower level of the Watermill

Runoff from the Water Mill

Kitchen above the blacksmith shop

Loft Bedroom above the blacksmith shop

The stovepipe that went through the floor of the second floor bedroom.
This reminded me of my Grandma Paasch's house.

The Blacksmith

Country house kitchen

Country Home Master Bedroom - with a double bed!

Fuchsia bushes growing along the buildings

The lakeview from the country house.

The port is quite industrial and it would take too much time to get anywhere else, so we all decide to head back to the ship to get something to eat and rest up a bit.

Later in the evening Tony & I head down to the theater to catch the Motown Revival Show. Lots of great ol' Motown numbers are performed by a wonderful cast of singers and dancers, and an amazing show band. And once again today, we are left wanting for more when the curtain drops!

We finish of the night with a quick bite to eat in the Horizon Buffet. Tomorrow is a sea day and then on Thursday we're in Santiago where 1,000 of our fellow cruisers will leave us. And then another 1,000 will join us for our last segment of our journey. I'm sure the second half will be just a wonderful as the first!