the fish market in Puerto Montt includes some fascinating species, like this ‘prehistoric’ fish
Puerto Montt is not a particularly attractive town. But it is the first big town in a while, so we decide to brace the traffic – not too bad, after all – to get some supplies, and change money. And then we drive on, along the coast, to the Angelmó neighbourhood, where the port is, and the fish market. And, not unimportantly, the fish restaurants, where we have another lunch feast from all those products we have just seen in the market down below.
entrance to the fish market and restaurant area, Angelmó in Puerto Montt
wide selection of fish and shell fish
including reineta, merluza and corvina
like my favourite, congrio
many of them have been cleaned for sale already
even octopus is being found in the market
and what about enormous blocks of dried seaweed
there is also space for sweets, home-made jams and the lot
and in the restaurant, above the market, very small, but equally tasty, coquilles
and this is from above, an impressive collection of shell fish
outside the market some seals entertain the tourists
but they are really here to fight over scraps of fish
even though nobody is supposed to feed them
another family looks on from the shallow water
We are not the only ones having a feast, a group of seals are waiting outside the market for scraps of fish they receive from the fish mongers inside. They are obviously being treated well, despite the sign saying not to feed them!
the one attractive part of the artesanal market is the sweets section
the street along the harbour is full of painted houses
many containing artesanal stalls or restaurants
even though not have opened yet, ahead of the highseason
The Angelmó area is also one of the biggest markets for handicrafts, and endless row of stalls selling all kinds of woodcuttings, woollen capes, and tourist trinkets. The kind of stuff you find everywhere, usually not very original, and much of it of dubious quality. At least it doesn’t seem to come from China, here. The row of houses that hold many of the artefacts are actually much nicer, many of them painted with images of birds or other scenes. Colourful, and worth the detour.
next: Puerto Varas
