Puerto Montt, Chile

Well, the good weather couldn't last forever. This morning when we arrived in Puerto Montt, the sun was shining and it was a comfortable 20 C degrees. By the time we got off the tender and arrived in town, the temperature had dropped, the fog had rolled in and the clouds threatened to rain on us (which thankfully they didn't). Unfortunately, this meant that we would not be able to see the famous Osorno Volcano which dominates the landscape around here. Nonetheless, I hired a taxi van with 6 other passengers and explored the surrounding countryside.

Our first stop was the German town of Frutillar. Back in the 1800s, many Germans settled in this region and their cultural influence is vividly apparent. They have their own schools (which teach German, Spanish and English) and their homes and restaurants reflect their Germanic roots.

This vacation town in located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, Chile's second largest lake. Normally, at this time of year (the height of the summer season), the beach would be packed with vacationers enjoying the sun and the sand. But, as you can see, the cold weather kept the crowds away.

On the way to our next stop, we stopped off at a farm that had a couple of llamas. This curious fellow wasn't the least bit shy and ran over to meet us as soon as we stepped out of the cab.

One of the busiest attractions in the area is the Petrohue Cascades. Alright, at about 20 feet it's no Niagara Falls, but at least you can get really close to the waterfalls. Because of the volcano, there is a lot of lava rock in the area. The mist from the cascades makes the area slippery and more than one tourist took a tumble on the wet pathway.