LIGHTS! CAMERA! ACTION!
FEBRUARY 22,2013- PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE
HOLA! Like the happy penguins, we arrived happily here in Punta Arenas w/ happy faces and feet. Penguins, penguins, everywhere we turn in Punta Arenas. The island was literally covered by penguins- real ones, fakes, charms, stuffed penguins, preserved ones in the musuem, t-shirt w/ penguins, etc. etc.
STUFFED PENGUINS FOR SOUVENIRS
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| BIENVENIDOS FROM PUNTA ARENAS, CHILE! |
HOLA PENGUINS!
EBB & NORIE W/ HAPPY PENGUINS
STREET SCENE W/ PENGUIN
Punta Arenas (English: "Sandy Point"), the world's second most southerly city, behind Ushuaia, Argentina. This area of Chile, was isolated from the rest of Chile by the southern ice field. There were only a few ways to get to Punta arenas, by plane, cruise ships or car by driving through Argentina.
CRUISE SHIP LANDING AREA W/ GIGANTIC CLOCK
What is Puenta Arenas like? Punta Arenas is the capital of the Magallanes Province. Located on the western side of the Strait of Magellan, between the Pacific Ocean and Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Andes. We expected a sleepy port town but instead a very nice city w/ Patagonia's largest and commercially important city.
We had a small private car & half day tour of the city w/ Shore Excursion. What a nice tour to be w/ just our guide and driver. We did a brief stop at La Cruz Hill, the tallest point of the city that promised breathtaking views of Punta Arenas & the Strait of Magellan. Located in the middle of town. On a clear day we could see the misty mountain of Tierra del Fuego in the distance.
CITY VIEW OF PUNTA ARENAS & GRAND PRINCESS
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| PANORAMIC VIEW FROM LA CRUZ HILL, PUNTA ARENAS |
COLORFUL HOUSES & BUILDINGS - VIEW FROM LA CRUZ HILL
Next stop in Punta Arenas was a walk at mid-town and the Plaza Munoz Gamero. Punta Arenas remained a stylish city of churches, restored colonial mansions and interesting old buildings. Many great examples of Spanish architecture.
CHURCH TOWER OF CATHEDRAL OF THE SCARED HEART
CHURCH OF THE SACRED HEART
SARA BRAUN MANSION, WHERE THE EARLY INFLUENTIAL PIONEER LIVED.
YELLOW COLONIAL BUILDING
CASA ESPANA BUILDING
PLAZA MUNOZ GAMERO- A plaza lined with trees and spring-blooming gardens. The architectural style of the square was a reflection of the mansions and buildings that surround it. The heart of the plaza however was the huge bronze statue of Ferdinand Magellan. At his feet were a mermaid and a pair of reclining indians.
MONUMENT TO FERDINAND MAGELLAN
This statue in the middle of the plaza was dedicated to the 400th anniversary of Magellan's voyage. A fitting tribute given the fact the city sat on the Strait of Magellan.
A name not easy to forget. He was famous in our Philippine History. Why? He discovered the Philippines. But ironically, during the Battle of Mactan, Magellan and several of his soldiers were killed. He was killed by a famous Filipino warrior named Lapu-lapu.He was the datu of Mactan and resisted the Spanish colonization.
AT THE BASE OF THE MAGELLAN'S MONUMENT
On the statue were also some indians from Tierra del Fuego and one of them had a very shining toe. A local legend saying that if kissed,the person doing the kissing would return to Punta Arenas
KISSING & TOUCHING THE BRONZE TOE
MAGGIO BORGATELLO MUSEUM was one of our stops. It provided a good overview of the region's history and habitat of its indigenous people. Saw many preserved penguins in different sizes and heights. No photos allowed, so nothing to show.
MUNICIPAL CEMETERY- It felt awkward to visit a cemetery as a ‘tourist sight’. A walled cemetery- w/ avenidas lined w/ cypress trees. Beautifully landscaped. One of the main features were the hundreds of meticulously sculpted cypress trees, creating scenes of quiet beauty.
SCULPTED CYPRESS TREES
RHOD & TOUR GUIDE (RIGHT)
MUNICIPAL CEMETERY
Walking through the cemetery was a walk through history of Punta Arenas. It was a typical South American cemetery with sometimes huge tombs and mausoleums. The most impressive were the tombs of Jose Menendez and Sarah Braun, pioneers who made Punta Arenas their home. Names of deceased reflected European heritage. It seemed a little bit like the famous Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires.
Hopefully the legend of the bronze toe is true. Wouldn't it be nice if someday, we will be able to go back to Punta Arenas? ADIOS! HASTA LA VISTA!
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