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Donna & Neils Travels
We reached the port of Quellion in Chiloe after a 6 hour ferry from Chaiten. We then took a bus to Chonchi, reason being that all the travel books said Quellion was full of drunks and half breeds with 2 heads, which sounded a bit like Wolverhampton so we decided to give it a miss.
The Island of Chiloe is just off the Chilean west coast and is very similar to Ireland in looks and pace of life, they even pride themselves on their potato's (they are actually locked in an arguement with Peru on who invented the Potato, such are the political turmoils of Chiloe).
The drive to Chonchi was very pleasant with rolling green hills and lakes dotted along the route. Here we stayed at a Hostel run by a Canadian called Carlos (he looked nothing like a Carlos, I think he changed his name from Roger to blend in with the locals). The hostel was nothing to write home about but the many people there made it much better than it actually was. Along with the Austrians (who were mad and great fun) and the Canadian/Yank couple, we also met a german couple (Joachim and Petra) who were a good laugh.
Whilst in Chonchi, we went across to the western side to see the Pacific Ocean, from a small town called Cucao. Carlos, the hostel owner, was also the local fire chief and also liked to talk about the Island a lot. So much so that when you asked him a question, say, have you any wine glasses please? He would go into a half hour lecture of the local politics of the Island, which for an Island of Potato growers you wouldñ't think was too in depth, but old Carlos would stretch it out.
As I mentioned before the hostel was all the better for the many people who stayed there. Also, it was great to get up late, eat breakfast outside the hostel, in the sun, next to the harbour. Doug had his leaving do here as well, which comprised of lots of drinking, lots of laughs and a game of Poker (called Texas Hold úm, I think) which lasted for about 4 hours. As the chips were actually seashells, the betting wasn't really taken that seriously and the Austrians finally won and are still trying to spend their hoard of seashells along their route!!!
From Chonchi, we headed up to Castro, the capitol, for a few days and then onto Ancud, via a small town called Quemchi.
Whilst in Castro, we headed off to a little Island on the east coast of Chiloe, with Joachim and Petra. The ferry port at Dalcahue(where we got the ferry to the small Isle of Anchua) had a local crafts market going on where we bought some locally made merchandise and also went to the local food market to have some empanadas. It was quite an experience to eat your food, and then watch the woman that just made it lick the spoon as she was stirring the mixture surrounded by flies, but it tasted good all the same.
Anchua was really nice and we walked the local town which had great views of the Andes, just over the water on the mainland of Chile.
In Ancud it rained for the 2 days we were there so nothing really to write about, except we met up again with the Austrians(which was nice), who left us in Castro to go further up the east coast..
Chiloe was a great 7 days, as it was so relaxed and the pace of life was back in the 40's or 50's. We were sorry to go but we had to start moving northwards towards the Lake District of Chile. Also, we were sorry to say goodbye to the Austrians (who are now travelling towards Brazil, via Buenos Aires) and see Doug leave (great sense of humour for a Yank). But we were still travelling with the 'bloody germans'who entertained us with their sunshine and rain songs (don't ask!!) on the bus to Pueto Varas .
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