Pics from Punta Arenas

In Punta Arenas, we've been staying at the Hostal Calafate - it's been a very nice stay and the plywood walls of our room makes us think that we could be in some rustic cabin ;). What we love most is that it's downtown so within easy walking access of stuff to see on quick walks when we have the chance, and that it has fast wireless internet - something we don't take for granted on our travels (I even got to talk with my parents today on the phone over skype! I was really thankful for that as it helped to be able to connect with them after my grandma's funeral - to process and help bring some closure.), and a nice breakfast included. Something that makes us laugh here in Chile is that most of the couches are - what we would consider - "overstuffed". They're so full of stuffing that they're uncomfortable instead of soft! Here's Jason checking out the padding on some couches in our hostel.


We arrived here the day before independence day - just a block from our hostel a parade marched by. Here's the military in formation.


An indigenous dance they use to celebrate their independence is called the "Cueca". We saw some kids demonstrating it to guitar playing during the parade - complete with fun costumes and hankerchiefs waving in their area.


The Punta Arenas cemetery is claimed to be one of the most beautiful in South America - and it lived up to that claim of the cemetaries we've seen. Beautiful walkways lined with well-manacured trees. Edifices filled with flowers. The rich had gated tombs while the poor had simple cubes 2x2 foot cubes layered on top of eachother like an apartment building. The day we visited was rainy and cool.

Jason and I took a walk along the straight of Magellan on the rare sunny day in Punta Arenas (Jason said he knew our trip would be a success if we saw the sun shine before we left, so I guess it was a success!) We stuck our fingers in the water -- brrr! When I asked Jason to do it again for the photo - he opted to fake it with his toe instead ;).


And we arrived just in time to watch the celebration of Chile's 166th year of being in control of the Strait - crowds gathered to sing the national anthum (complete with a shouted "Viva Chile!" at the end of the singing) and cannon salutes.


In the early days of Punta Arenas, sheep owners had all the money...I guess our modern day pastors may wonder what happened ;).


We are unbelievably close to Antarctica - here's Jason pointing to where we are in Punta Arenas that shows map of southern Chile and Antarctica. Jason's also starting the sign for "Chile".