On November 27,2007 at 6:46 am in the morning after traveling 331 statue miles from Ushuaia we docked at Punta Arenas, Chile. Although the weather was clear at 44 degrees F, it was very windy. Gusts were 20 to 30 miles per hour. It was so windy that we had two tugs, one at the front and one at the back of the ship to hold the ship steady.This was our first trip to the country of Chile. The cities we were to visit in Chile are Punta Arenas, Puerto Montt, Valparaiso and Santiago. Punta Arenas, is one of the southernmost cities in the world. Located on the infamous Straits of Magallan, named for the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan, who discovered it in 1520. The hardy people who live here consider themselves first as Magellanicos and second as Chileans, which is hardly surprising, since in order to come and go from this stormy corner of the world, a person has to either travel for days by bus across the Argentine Patagonia, fly direct, or take a lengthy cruise through the southern seas.
PUNTA ARENAS: was founded in 1849 for the express purpose of reinforcing Chilean claims of sovereignty over the Straits of Magellan. Before the opening of the Panama Canal, ships used the area as a refueling station. With a population of 110,000, Punta Arenas attracts fishing vessels from the South Atlantic, as well as Antarctic research and cruise ships and a duty-free zone has promoted commerce and encouraged immigration. Wool, petroleum and fisheries have made this Chile's most prosperous region, and its natural assets, especially the Torres del Paine National Prk, have made it a popular tourist destination.
We signed up for a tour of various sights which included lunch in and around Punta Arenas. The tour included the Patagonian Institute Museum, The Naval Museum, a stop at the observation point at La Cuz Hill for a view of the city and Strait of Magellan.
The Patagonian Institute exhibits a collection of old local cars and machinery. The Institute also displays a small botanical garden and exhibits pictures of Punta Arenas dating back to 1905.
The Maritime Museum has varied exhibits on model ships, naval history. It also has a very fine account of the Chilean mission that recued British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's crew from Antarctica.
The Maritime Museum has varied exhibits on model ships, naval history. It also has a very fine account of the Chilean mission that recued British explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton's crew from Antarctica.
Located just three miles from Punta Arenas is a Typical farm that belongs to a family of pioneers. we visited the main farmhouse and the farm's facilities. This particular farm had a vinyard with it's owned wine label. After wine tasting we enjoyed a delicious lamb barbecue at the farm's resturant
After lunch, we traveled to the site of the First Settlement called Puerto Hambre. The site was founded by Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa on March, 1584 under the orders of King Felipe of Spain. It was called the city of Rey Don Felipe. Its 300 or so inhabitants soon failed to conquer the ruthless elements and starved to death.
Thomas Cavendish landed at this site and found only the remains of the city. He renamed it Port Famine.Sr Thomas Cavendish (1560-1592) was known as "the Navigator" because he led the third expedition to circumnavigate the globe (between 1586-1588), and was the first who deliberately set out to do so. While Magellan (first) and Francis Drake (second) had preceeded Cavendish in circumnavigtating the globe, it had not been their intent at the outset. After his first circumnavigation, which made him rich from Spanish gold, he set out for a second but was not as fortunate and died a young man of 32 at sea. He reached the Strait of Magellan on June 6, 1587.
A short distance from Puerto del Hambre we visited Fort Bulnes. Since the Portuguese salior Hernando de Magallanes discovered the Magellan Strait in 1520, many famous Pirates, buccaneers and corsairs sailed by its waters, among them we can mention Drake, Cavendish, Merick, Dampier, Noort, Anson, Sharp, Davis and Strong.
Under the Government of the President Mr. Manual Bulnes it was decided to take possession of the Strait, organizing an expedition that set sail to the Magellan Strait from Chiloe in the ship Goleta Ancud May 22, 1843.
On September 21, 1843 the Goleta Ancud, under the orders of the Captain Juan Williams, took possession of the Magellan Strait and the Patagonian lands in the name of the Chilean Republic, on board there were 23 crew members, including two women.
A Naturalist Prussian by the name of Bernardo Phillipi was put in charge to build Fuerte Bulnes (Fort Bulnes). It was built using only axes and native wood. On October 30, 1843, the opening ceremony took place. It was called Fuerte Bulnes in honor of the President at that time. Soon after building the fort it was abandoned in favor of Punta Arenas, where the climate was far more benign. Punta Arenas was founded in 1849. The present fort is a re-creation of the original, with reconstructed buildings including a church, jail, post office and stables.
Before returning to the ship, we stopped at a small town to walk around.
Back at the ship, the wind had died down a little but still required us to be tied up. As the tugs left the ship and we were untied we left Punta Arenas 7:51 pm and began our trip to Puerto Mott.
