Puerto Varas, Chile & More

Another perfectly glorious day in what is becoming one of my top three countries on Earth. This excursion was so memorable from 2020 that I could not pass up a repeat visit to these glorious sites. Puerto Montt (a port, obviously, named for the first President of Chile) is a pretty little area in its own right but it is, to me, a gateway to Heaven on Earth. After a relatively short trip over forested mountain ridges we arrive at Lahuen Nadi National Forest which is the home of very nearly the last of a magnificent species - Alerce trees. the oldest of which has been certified to be 5,000 years old. Those photographed herein are not that old but I'll settle for a 1,600 year old tree if it is as gorgeous as this one.

A beautiful 1,600 year old specimen of the Alerce tree. Our guide, Patricio, explained that while it is protected here in the forest there are still poachers who will chop thru one of the roots, wait for the death of the tree, then is free to harvest the lumber. They are extremely slow growing, therefore attempts to prevent their extinction will take hundreds of years. It pleases me to learn that those efforts are being made even if not in a major way. What a shame it would be if these magnificent creations were to disappear forever.

After an all to brief stroll through the forest we once again loaded onto our bus and headed thru massive unspoiled splendor to visit the German Colonial Museum. How did Germans come to be in Chile you might ask. According to Tomas, our guide in 2020, Chile's upstart neighbor, Argentina, was threating to take this area away from them because it was not inhabited. So Chile sent a team of recruiters to German in the 1850s to persuade them to come to Chile. Germany was suffering economically at that time so many Germans decided to make a new start in a new land. After all they were promised land, livestock, tools and transportation for this new start. In exchange, they must only give up their German citizenship. This museum is proof that you can take the German out of Germany but you cannot take their style, culture, architecture, beliefs, work ethic, etc. from them. Settle this area they did and beautifully I must add.

The Fjords are interfering with our internet so will have to adjourn until we are at sea again. And that will be only after the 22' swells subside. Thank you, Captain!

This Is Someday! Enjoy It!