Punta Arenas was originally called “Sandy Point” by the British – the current name seems to be derived from “Punta Arenosa”. Like during our transit of the channels to get here, the weather is still a bit misty / rainy. I signed up for the general “Sights of the Port” tour.
However, the morning started with unexpected neighbors. The MGC “Magnifica” was anchored within the harbor. Pompous name aside, they had to use their tenders due to being twice the size of the Silver Moon and carrying up to five times the passengers. But I had the chance for some detailed shots.
Our first stop on the tour was at the town’s overlook – where you can see why sometimes it pays to be the smaller ship.
I saw a hotel near the overlook named “The Crazy Horse”. Our guide said it was a boutique hotel, which each room decorated as a farm location. For example: one room was for sheep shearing – there were paintings/pictures of sheep on the wall along with shearing tools.
We then visited the town center, which was the traditional Spanish square that had all the important buildings around it. At its center was a statue of Magellan.
You may notice the shiny toes on the indigenous person on the right. Out guide says the folklore is if you kiss and/or rub the foot you are sure to return to Punta Arenas.
Punta Arenas is large enough to have a local university. They maintain an outdoor museum of how the area was originally established with farming equipment and 200+ year old original houses and items.
From there we explored a history museum that is in a building donated by a local church. The first floor was stuffed animals, and the second floor had human history of the area. I’ll add this to my “things different cultures will talk about that mine may not” list. Early humans here domesticated the guanaco, which is similar to the llama. Our guide was keen to point out how they used every part of the animal.
Including making a fishing net out of its nerve clusters. !!??!!??!!
The third floor was religious, which makes sense due to the donator. Turns out the Pope came here and stopped a very possible Argentina-Chile war in the 1979/1980. Here was the chair he sat in.
I found this fascinating – a press for “printing” the eucharist. In different sizes. Sure, it has to be done. But I had never thought about it.
Turns out Punta Arenas is one of many towns that was hit hard by the opening of the Panama Canal. But it is now the major port for tourist cruises going to Antartica, so it’s getting by. Turns out the current president of Chile is from around here.