Kauffman Commentary

Land Ho!! Finally we arrived at Puerto Montt after 2 1/2 days at sea. Half of that was with high winds and huge swells. It was not a swell time.

This area was settled mainly by Germans in the 19th century. The small town called Frutillar (about 15 minutes from Puerto Montt) has many pretty houses, with German influence, along  Lago Llanquihue (largest lake completely in Chile). Most of them have been turned into Bed and Breakfasts. Their spring flowers are blooming, and are so beautiful. The weather is mild and only reaches a low in the upper 40’s in the winter.

They are taxed 48%, but they will tell you that they get free education and free healthcare.

The children start school at five. Some go to private schools and others go “half and half” as they call it. Those students are served breakfast at school and then they go home for lunch at 1:00 and back to school at 2:30. Then they return home for the day at 6:00 in the evening.

They have a smooth highway, but it isn’t paid for by the state or city. It is a private Spanish company that takes care of the roads. Of course there is a toll everywhere you go.

Just off shore by the lake is a volcano that’s 8,700 feet tall. Its last eruption was in 1869, but it is still considered active. In Puerto Montt there is another volcano that is 6500 feet, called Calbuco it last erupted in 2015.

A 9.6 earthquake hit here in 1960. Not sure we’d like to have a vacation home here.