Chiloè Curanto

Ingredients of the Curanto: If it walks, crawls or swims bung it in!

How to eat: Slowly with a bottle of wine, in a Palafito, from a wooden dish, using forks, spoons, shells and fingers.

Result: Full tummies and a sleepy arvo.


Enjoying Chiloé, the large island midway down Chile´s coast. Home of bizzare folk lore, including a Trauco, a cheaky beast with irresitable repugnance who seduces women to get them pregnant. A pretty sleepy place but with buckets of seafood to enjoy and some authentic local products to spend our Pesos on. Kaz looking fetching in her big new wooly socks and "corte" woolen skirt (lets hope it doesn´t shrink in the wash or Phil will never let her out in it!) with Stu sporting a traditional gaucho (or maybe gringo) sombrero.

Castro, the town we've based ourselves in and the capital is surrounded by Palafitos, wooden houses on stilts over the water. A perfect representation of "rustic".

Checked out some of the smaller islands of the archipeligo which were even sleepier and fishier and gave good views of the Andes.

Did some walking in one of the national parks on the coast. Finally found the sand dunes just in time for the rain. Didn´t seem to bother the locals gathering shell fish in the surf. Took an alternative path on the way back through some wetlands and a local's backyard. Though 2 hours each way on gravel roads in a rickety bus was worth it for the coffee coffee (the local way of reasuring you it ain't Nescafe)

Moving on back to Puerto Montt tomorrow to catch a hairyplane (just ask xsa xsa where do and da are!) south to Punta Arenas to prepare to hike the "W".

Love Kaz and Stu

Big shout out of the week: TOF for consistent commenting. All you other slackers note its now easier,just read the side of the blog.

Meal of the week: Curanto feast aus$25

Arse of the week: One scummy bathroom between 40! Next hostel please...

Bargain of the week. Kaz and Stu's knee high socks, half a sheep each for only 6 aussie bucks.