Castro

Castro is a city on Chiloé Island in Chile's Lake District. Colorful wooden stilt houses line the waterfront. On Plaza de Armas, the yellow, early-20th-century San Francisco Church has 2 steeples and a distinctive wooden interior. Nearby, woven baskets are sold at the craft fair. The Museum of Modern Art Chiloé displays works by Chilean artists. To the west, Chiloé National Park is home to sea lions.

The capital of Chile’s Chiloe Island, Castro is big, bright and boisterous. Colourful wooden huts (called palafitos) teeter on stilts over the city’s waterfront, inviting you into a slice of life that’s sure to brighten any day. Warm welcomes abound, music seeps from street corner and life is celebrated with gusto all over the city. If you are looking for a healthy mix of culture and cosmopolitanism, then you have found it in Castro. The island is renowned for its UNESCO World Heritage Site wooden churches. Around 70 churches were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, embodying the intangible richness of the Chiloé Archipelago, and bear witness to a successful fusion of indigenous and European culture. Just 16 of the churches are classified by UNESCO, prime examples of the full integration of the architecture in the landscape and environment, as well as to the spiritual values of the communities. The city is Chile’s third oldest city in existence, founded in 1576. Castro lived peaceably – bar a few attacks from Dutch pirates - until 1837, when it was destroyed by an earthquake, wiping oput most of the population. By 1912 the railway had arrived, allowing the town to develop again. Tragically, the city was once again destroyed in 1960 by a series of earthquakes, tsunamis and fires. History lovers will definitely enjoy the Regional Museum of Castro. Not only does the small museum house an interesting array of Huilliche relics, but a series of photographs depicting Castro pre-1960 is on display.

Went ashore in Castro at 8,45 in a splendid calm, Then an hour bus journey to Queilen; we had the front seat for once!. Then onto quite an old boat. We stood up at the front, trying to keep in the sun to keep warm, Went back inside for a delicious feast to local mussels, plus a glass of wine. The local guide claimed that 70% of the world´s mussels came from Chiloé - there were indeed an abundance of mussel and salmon farms around. We arrived at the Isla de los Conejos but all the Magellanic penguins had left- we did see some in the water. And there were loads of pelicans.

On the way back to Castro there was a quick stop to look at the Chiloan custom of house building

We left the coach in the main square in Castro and went into the magnificent wooden cathedral. Then walked down to the water and revisited the market where I has gashed my leg in 2007-.

Other images of Chiloe's myruad of wooden churches

Back on the ship there was a mammoth tea where we enjoyed sausages, pizzas a mini hamburger and a Victoria sponge. The last recap and briefing- learnt that there was to be another Disco My small portion of beef was enormous!!and had more vulgarity from Damon!