The next couple days introduced us to Chilean local life, both wildlife and residents. Near the quaint fishing town of Punihuil is the Punihuil Wildlife Reserve. We boarded small boats from which we could observe wildlife on and among rocks. We completed that visit with another lunch at a scenic restaurant.
We ferried to Chiloe Island. On Chiloe we visited a local school where we had an opportunity to interact with the students. Grand Circle Foundation is a supporter of this school. We learned the significance of having groups like ours visit so that students develop an appreciation for learning English and the concept of jobs in tourism.
We had a delightful experience of a traditional meal called a curranto. This consists of local fare - shellfish, meat, potatoes and vegetables - cooked in a pit lined with hot rocks. Some of our group got to prepare part of the meal. While our meal was cooking we visited the World Heritage site Church of Tenaun.
On Chiloe Island we visited the capital city, Castro.
Our last adventure in this area was visiting the Angelmo Market in Puerto Montt. This extensive outdoor market had clothing, food, trinkets and restaurants. We had lunch here in a very tightly packed place with a tiny kitchen. The food was good and it was a fun experience.
