Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️💋💋Today was incredible!! I had a ..

Happy Valentine’s Day! ❤️❤️💋💋

Today was incredible!! I had a wonderful breakfast in Puerto Montt at a nearby cafe where they served me delicious eggs and perfect French toast with fruit on top. Soon after, we headed out to Chiloé Island!

To get to the island, you put your car on a small ferry. I have never driven a car onto a ferry boat so it was a little scary but I did it! Once on board, you can get out of your car and walk around or climb the stairs to the look out. You can also buy a hot tea and an alfajore during the ride :) Alfajores are delicious little cookie sandwiches with manjar (dulce de leche) inside :) It also sounds like you’re saying “alpha-whore” when you say it with an English accent… which I do often 😂 Side note, they are building a bridge from the mainland to Chiloé that should be complete in two years-ish. When it’s completely, I want to come back and drive over it!

After offloading, we drove 1 1/2 hours to a city called Castro. It’s the biggest city on the island and they are known for having colorful homes sitting on stilts above the water and iconic wooden churches built by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th and 18th centurie! These little churches are so tiny and so flipping adorable. There’s a larger church in Plaza de Armand in Castro called “The Church of San Francisco” that’s yellow with purple roofs. It kind of looks like a castle/dollhouse that a carpenter would make for his daughter in the 1950s.

For lunch, I looked for the highest rated restaurant in the area and when we found it and sat down, I realized it was a Peruvian restaurant (of course 🤷‍♀️). I had a lomo saltado (steak) with a side of risotto and it was heavenly. I’m also terrified that I’ll get sick when I go on vacation so I’ve been drinking hot teas for every meal ☕️.

As I walked through Castro, everyone has been turning their heads to look up at me. I forget how tall I am compared to Chileans (which isn’t even that tall; 5’8”) and it doesn’t help that my dad is 6’7” 😂 There are so many shows everywhere and the walk ability is great! I feel like my dreams tonight are going to be filled with vibrant colors inspired by Castro tonight!

Tomorrow I’m catching a flight to Coyhaique, Chile, and I’m hoping to see the Catedrales de Mármol (Marble Cathedral caves) at some point. I have never kayaked before but to get to the caves requires a boat or kayak. I can’t wait to pop my kayak cherry :D