Moving south.....
Trip Start
Jan 19, 2006
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242
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Trip End
Jan 19, 2007
Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, Chile
Monday, October 30, 2006
Few hours later arrive in drizzly weather. Dave finds a hotel near the lake and we trundle off. I am very tired so spend the afternoon sleeping while they explore the small town with a huge lake and views of volcanoes although its too cloudy to see today. They drink posh coffees and play chess while I cry myself to sleep at home on my own (not really). Later we all head out for a meal in a small restaurant in the market which is really nice and have a good meal before heading to bed.
Have breakfast in our hostel (have a little kitchen in our apartment room). Then get the minibus from around the corner to nearby Puerto Montt which is only about 20 mins away. Town is a lot bigger with a huge port, obviously! We get dropped off outside Navimag where we check in our bags and find out that we are on a bigger boat for some reason than originally booked.
Weather is mixed and we get a bus into the centre for a wander around. Try to find out some info on Torres del Paine for our trekking in a few days time as we are concerned that all the hostels may be booked as we approach high season. The Chilean tourist office, Conaf (forestry commission office) and anywhere else we are sent have nothing at all and are just local info offices which is a bit frustrating. Find out more on tínternet. Have a cheapie 3 course lunch for about 2 quid and then stock up on wine and snacks before we go back to the port for our next voyage!
All get put on coaches to get to our boat. It is a lot further than we thought out to the ship along the coast, is a nice sightseeing tour though! About 200 (good mixture of ages and nationalities too) of us get on board and we are shown to our cabin where are bags are already settled in. Are only 3 of us in a 4 person cabin in about the middle of the ship in terms of height and length which is good for potential seasickness! Our bathroom is down the hall and we have a key to lock it as its just for us with shower, etc. Are a bit disappointed its not ensuite but think we knew that when we booked. Also have no porthole (despite us booking a room with a view) and the cabin is pretty small but we hope not to spend too much time in here!
Have an explore of the ship which has cargo as well as tourists on board. There is a big dining hall and a pub upstairs plus huge viewing decks too. Is a bit nicer than I imagined I think but not really sure what our expectations were.
Have a welcome meeting with the captain who explains our route threw channels down to Puerto Natales. Sounds like it should be picturesque, depending on the weather!
