The Lemmers Lynns, Lachine, QC, CA - SA Cruise 2004, Puerto Chacabuco

The Lemmers Lynns
Lachine, Quebec, Canada
Bienvenue! / Welcome!

South America / Antarctic Cruise 2004
Sunday, February 1, 2004 - Puerto Chacabuco, Chile

This morning we have been sailing through channels with fjord-like vistas into Puerto Chacabuco. The third photo shows the sliding roof over the pool - works a lot better than Montreal's Big Owe!

We go ashore by tender and get our first good view of MS Amsterdam from outside.
The two missing lifeboats are on tender service.

Puerto Chacabuco replaced Puerto Aysen as a port when Puerto Aysen was wiped out by three 90 ft waves of a tsunami (underground earth quake induced) in 1960.
Ashore we find a ship being loaded with salmon from local fish farms, a large industry in Chile.

Then we board the buses for a trip to Puerto Aysen, with the longest suspension bridge in Chile and the third longest in South America. Some unusual trees grow there, but I don't recall their name.

The locals are concerned with the environment.

Now on to a new National Park, opened December, 2001. At the visitor center we received water and an excellent handbook describing the flora and fauna. Then a short drive to a trail that we followed on foot for about a kilometer to reach a waterfall, with explanations along the way by the park ranger / tour guide.
The Los Colihues tree looks similar to bamboo. It flowers only once in its lifetime.

Then to an inn where we saw a great folkloric dance group and savoured plentiful pisco sours, wine and nibblers. Too soon we had to leave to make it to the ship on time.

Aboard ship we had a last view of Puerto Chacabuco before sailing off into the sunset.