Earthquake and birthday
Trip Start
Feb 10, 2010
1
11
15
Trip End
Mar 08, 2010
Frutillar, Lake District, Chile
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Day 17 Saturday 27th Feb
Not often that the earth shakes on reaching a birthday.
0340 We awake to the hotel moving as if still on Navimag. Alerted we hurredly dressed and assembled in reception. Other guests arrived. The night porter informed us in Spanish to be calm. This went contary to the swinging of the chandlers in the lounge. Possibly noticing this he steadied the swinging lights with his hand. The tremor lasted for around 2 minutes.
Needless to stay returning to sleep took a bit longer.
0505 An after tremor lasting maybe 20 seconds enough to shake the wardrobe doors, this was enough to drive us into the corridor.
Arriving downstairs at 0800 the receptionist informed us of a major earthquake centred on Conception. Lots of damage had been done with the electric down, no radio or TV, the cellphone network was also down. Electric returned in the afternoon together with cellphone and TV. We could get unto to Skype so R could reassure her family that all was OK. Cellphone and internet remained slow or blocked for the rest of the day.
It emerged that the quake was registered at 8.8 in Conception (450 miles north of Frutillar) with the local tremor being 5.0 on the Ricther scale. Around 150 deaths and the road and rail network were severly affected with bridges down. Our travel planned for the 28th had to be postponed to the 1st March. Delays are anticipated. This means just 2 days in Mendoza reduced from the original 5 days.
Staying on in Frutillar is not a hard ship as you can see from the photographs. This is a Chilean summer resort in the heart of their lake district. Lots of choice for restaurants with good food, fine service and quality beverages.
The birthday proceeded at a more sedate pace. The morning was spent on a tour of the local museum which portrayed the lifestyle of the German settlers. This we enjoyed untill we were asked to leave at midday. We suspect all offical buildings had been closed due to the earthquake even though there was no local damage. The local fire department (complete with Austrian fire engine) was on standby with the engine parked at the ready in the street. The Chileans take earthquakes in there stride as it is a common event here. We were told by the owners son that our hotel had been designed to withstand these conditions.
Lunch in the Andes Cafe was their set lunch at $4000 (£7). This is a regulatory requirement here where restaurants must provide a value 3 course meal at lunchtime. A starter of salad followed by main course of chicken in a mushroom and bacon cream sauce. Dessert was a half peach in a orange flavoured syrup. The local beer Colones came cloudy with a malty flavour. I believe Compo would have been satisfied with this.
Afternoon saw R catching up on sleep while O and C took to the water of the lake. The lake has black sand beach no doubt volcanic residue from Osorno the snow capped 2600mtr high volcano which dominates the background. Cold water but refreshing after getting used to it. Not a swim where one would linger long.
Prior to the evening meal R and O had a sauna followed by Jacuzzi. The Jacuzzi is outdoors over looking the bay.
So to the meal of grilled hake and potatoes in a light tomato and onion sauce. To celebrate a fruit cake made with an untasted splash of Glenfich topped of with a volcano candle. The red was a Chilean Don Luis sauvignon.
So a rememberable day had by all.
