A-Z Places to Visit - "C"

This is the third installment, of my list of places that I want to visit one day. This time I will be listing places that start with the letter C. If invited I would not say no to most destinations, but I am trying to list places that I haven't been to before and places that interest me.

Countries:

Canada - In 1635 John Emery Senior came to the Massachusetts colony aboard the James after his first wife died he married the Webster widow, Mary Shatswell. Then, for four generations my ancestors lived in Massachusetts and then New Hampshire, but sometime between 1805 and 1815 they moved to Hatley, Canada. They lived here for two generations until 1891 when they moved back to New Hampshire. More Information here and here. My nearest closest relative born outside of the US is my great grandfather who was born in Hatley and my Uncle says he has been invited to Emery family reunions there as well. So I would like to visit and explore the area more. Of course I would also like to visit more normal destinations as well.

Chile- I would love to visit Chile. My Mom lived there one summer when her father was working in Chile. I want to go to see the culture, the scenic views. I also want to visit Tierra del Fuego and see the penguins.

China- I would love to visit China and see the Great Wall. There is 5,000 years of history as it was the oldest country in the world. It has great food and an amazing culture. Here is a guide.

Colombia- My great grandparents visited Colombia twice on their tour of South America, at the beginning and end of the tour. First visit and second visit. I would like to see the rain forests, the indigenous ruins, and it is on the Caribbean so you can also visit beautiful beaches.

Costa Rica- This is a popular destination for people in Arizona. It is similar to tourist destinations in Mexico, but it is a little bit more exotic. Also you can visit Costa Rica in the winter for a beach vacation because it is closer to the equator.

Croatia- I didn't always want to visit Croatia, but a co-worker of mine was planning to visit, and she got me interested as well. It is inexpensive and not too touristy yet, but it has a lot of the charm that more popular European destinations have.

Prague

Cyprus- I would like to visit Cyprus. It is a relaxing destination with delicious food. It also has a lot of history so that is also worth exploring.

Czech Republic- This would be a fantastic country to visit. You can visit all the castles, and Prague is a great city to visit as well.

States

Connecticut- I have been to the other C states, and technically I have been to Connecticut but only flying in or driving thru to get to New Hampshire or New York. I would like to visit because my great grandfather's family lived there for a little while. I would like to visit Hartford to do some family searches. I would like to visit Poquonock and see Mark Twain's House.

Cities

Cinque Terre, Italy- When my sister studied in Italy, Como was one of her favorite destinations. I have had coworkers and friends say this in also one of their favorite because it is so beautiful.

Cinque Terre

Cusco, Peru- Cathedrals, Inca temples, Food and drink. A great city to visit on your way to Machu Picchu.

Cozumel, Mexico- My sister has been as a day trip from Cancun. It is also a popular cruise destination. I would most like to visit there while sailing the Caribbean on a smaller boat with my family. It would be a great vacation.

Cairo, Egypt- I do want to visit Egypt, but it will probably be a while before I do so. It might not be the safest place to travel right now, but probably better than it was. Of course I would like to visit to see the history and culture.

Coron, Phillipines- I would love to visit the white sand beaches and beautiful lagoons. I would also love to visit for the food.

Cook Islands- Speaking of beautiful oceans there are also beautiful landscape. I would love to go swimming and hiking here

South American Tour: Punta Arenas, Chile and Montevideo, Uruguay

Friday, January 29, 1965 Punta Arenas, Chile

This would be our last day of heading south and we would also leave Chile before the night was over. The sun was shinning brightly when we got up. Then it became cloudy and rain squalls appeared and stopped. The wind blew a gale Winter had returned for a day. We were cruising between the 52 and 54 degree parallels approximately the same distance south of the equator as Calgary, Lake Louise and Banff is North of it. At 11 am we rounded the point in the Estrecho de Magallaneo which is the southern most point of the continental Western Hemisphere. There are many islands south of this and of course the large island of Tierra del Fuego (30,000 sq miles)

Everyone took pictures of the southern point and the ship came up with a long blast of the foghorn as it turned from southeasterly to northerly direction.  Now the Strait became very wide and quite rough. At two PM we came into Punta Arenas, the southernness city on the main continent. It is 1432 miles from Valparaiso the population is about 47,000. One third of Chile lies south of Puerto Montt but its land and climates is such that it can be put to little use. Less than 1% of Chile's population live in this area. It is one of the rainiest and stormest regions on earth -- 200 inches of rain fall on some of it. But it is beautiful to behold.

We went ashore shortly after landing I wore a top coat and Millie a heavy cloth one. When facing into the wind it was quite raw. The town is a freeport but there are many bargains, German films is three times the price of the same made in the U.S. We spent our last escudos, pesos, and centavos for local liquors and got eight quarts for $10 American.  We returned to ship for dinner. At 8:30 PM unloading was completed and at nine, still light, the ship backed away from the wharf. Next Montevideo, Uruguay -- 1300 Nautical miles away.

Saturday-Monday January 30-February 1st, 1965 Enroute to Montevideo, Uruguay

Our destination is 1300 miles away, without a stop, out of sight of land. The sea is slightly rough and the weather cloudy with quite a bit of wind. Sunday night we had the Captain's Dinner, preceded with hors d'Oeuvers and cocktails at five and a special dinner with the Scandinavian national drink. Monday was spent sorting our clothes and accessories following several days at Montevideo we sail across the and up the Rio de la Plata (170 miles) to Buenas Aires where we leave the ship for 10-14 days. We have to pack what we leave on ship as our cabins are to be redecorated. Monday Night we saw a satellite travelling northwest over the ship.

Tuesday, February 2nd, 1965 Montevideo, Uruguay

Montevideo was sighted around noon. Entry from the Atlantic Ocean is tricky altho the Plata River is at least 100 miles wide at this point. It was mid afternoon before we docked and another 1/2 hour for clearance. We took a taxi with the Finnertys to the center of town. Walking around we ran into the Nelsons, Montes, Hazel Lewis and Marian Pearl. We also saw Dorothy Wilson, all passengers on our ship. We did not see a negro. Our guide books tell us that there are very few in the entire country.

It was a delightful day with temperature of 77 but a stiff breeze. The city is located at 34 degrees south latitude and its midsummer here. Los Angeles is 34 degrees north latitude. We returned to the ship for dinner. I put on a heavier suit and Millie took a coat. We returned to town the wind was still blowing.  Millie bought a coat of baby antelope skin. We found the win too disagreeable to walk so we taxied back to ship. Oh yes! We received letters today from Mary Lou and Bill, Betty and Roy Walleson, Avis and Roger and Millie's Aunt Jenny.

South American Tour: Puerto Montt and Puerto Varas, Chile

Monday, January 25, 1965 Enroute to Puerto Montt, Chile

The surface of the sea was smooth but there were large swells underneath that caused the ship to pitch this is the first time the sailing has been uncomfortable. Shortly before we left the Pacific and turned inside thru the channels, bays and lakes, the most beautiful panaramas we have seen. At 8:45 PM and the sun is still shining, we anchored off Puerto Montt, a town of 25,000 people. The docks and the town itself were badly damaged in the earthquake of 1960.

Tuesday, January 26, 1965 Puerto Montt to Puerto Varas, Chile

Puerto Montt is the southern terminus of the central (state) railroad (from Santiago and also of the Pan-American Highway. It is a busy port exporting timber, wool, and leather. Last night we were told the agents boat would pick us up at 8:00 AM. All of us anticipated a beautiful scenic show ashore as this is one of the beauty spots of Chile and of South America. At 10 AM we were still waiting. The port has no lighters or barges for loading and unloading ships at anchor in the harbor. (The earthquake destroyed the docks.) The Navy came to the rescue with their navel landing craft and so the commerce moves. Our Captain says "This is the only place in the world where the navy really works."

At 10:30 AM the passengers received word that a small boat was coming out and small it was. Twelve passengers crowded, the pilot and wife boarded it. The women crowded into and filled the small cabin space. The men stood at the half door holding on to whatever was available. There was a fair sized afterdeck but not a seat on it much less a rail. The water was very choppy and there was a stiff wind blowing. As the bay, Seno de Reloncavi, is more than 25 miles across it, the wind can stir it up quite a bit. We landed and walked the 1/4 mile to dock gate and took a bus to main part of town.

The pilot, Manual Montaldo, took us in hand as he is familiar with the town. We window-shipped until 1 PM when we took a modern up-to-date, clean Mercedes Bus to Puerto Varas 20 KM Northwest on magnificent lago llanquihue (pronounced: yankee way). Puerto Varas is a tourism center having as a magnificent background, the most beautiful Chilean snow capped volcanoes- Osorno and Calbuco often called, "Punch and Judy." The lake covers 530 sq. miles and is 200 feet above sea level. It is the largest and best known of the Chilean Lakes. We ate at the Gran Hotel - lobster and fillet. Millie shopped at the gift shop in the hotel and purchased an exquisite vase and woven straw plate.

Walked back to the main street and took bus back to Puerto Montt at 4 PM. and then the street bus to dock area. The tide was out making the small wharf too high so we boarded by crawling on broken concrete and jumping to deck of small launch. The stevadors had taken a three hour sista 11 to 2 so 5 PM sailing had to be postponed. They finished at eight and then the crew began putting the long booms in their cradles - the first time since we left - indicating there was some rough weather ahead. WE sailed at 9 PM.

Wednesday, January 27, 1965

During the night the ship passed thru what is called, 'Canal Moraleda" between thousands of islands and heavily ofrested slopes of snow capped mountains on both sides. Somewhere about 45 S. Latitude the ship turned westward and headed for the Pacific Ocean. It was the roughest sea we had encountered so far. The ship pitched and rolled walking was difficult and the weather was gloomy.

Thursday, January 28, 1965

We rose at 7:30 looking out the window we could see the ship was back in the mountains. They rise sharply out of the water on both sides and we knew we were back on the inside tract. Leaving the Pacific the ship had crossed the Gulfo de Penas and entered Canal Messier. These "Canals" are not canals as we know them, but designated ship channels which have been determined by survey. The passage may be a mile or more wide or it may narrow down to three or four hundred feet. In this maze of fjord, bays lanes and islands, a channel for these large ships is most necessary. Sometimes so narrow that only one ship can pass thru. At 10 am the ship stopped and waited until 11:30 before we received clearance to proceed. In one section where it is necessary to follow on "s" curve thru the "English Narrow" the anchor is lowered to water surface and two crew members stand by ready to drop it electrically should the helmsman lose control of the ship to wind or tide. After we came out we passed another ship the first one we have seen on this run.

In this section of Chile, the sun breaks thru the clouds on the average of 51 days a year. It rains every day, anyway. With this rainfall, the mountains are heavily forested and there is plenty of snow with large glaciers. This has been a day of unique and wonderful scenery. Most of the passengers spent the morning and afternoon up in the bow except when a rain squall came along. Taking pictures and just looking thru binoculars. It was the most beautiful and unusual that we have ever seen.

South American Tour: Santiago, Concepcion, and Talcahuano, Chile

Friday, January 22, 1965 Santiago to Concepcion to Talcahuano, Chile

Up at 6:30. Packed to take the eleven hour trip to Concepcion. We were on a coach with all seats reserved. There were several other coaches, but ours was the only one going to Concepcion. Every coach was crowded and 2/3 were children, but the best behaved youngsters I have ever seen. Never was one allowed to run in the aisle or annoy adults. They just sat in there seats for hour after hour. We left the hotel at 9:30 AM., the train departed at 10 AM. It was pretty much of a milk run, but they amazing country side between two chains of the Andes Mountains. Excellent farming and grazing county. By the time we arrived in Concepcion there were at least 50 passengers without seats, standing in the aisle of our coach with their bags and boxes.

We became acquainted with a young chap, Alberto Duharn McInnes a native who spoke excellent English with a Scottish burr. One of his grandfathers was a Scot, the other a Frenchman and his mother a Chilean. We had an excellent dinner on the train, altho the waiter had trouble with our English. At Concepcion, our new friend for us a taxi and instructed the driver to take us to three hotels, in case one or two did not have double rooms with twin beds. Imagine our surprise when all three told us no rooms at all, neither could we find any at other hotels. The driver took us to some others, most pretty bad. So we told the driver to take us back to Railroad Station and we would prepare to sit out the night. The lunchroom, telephone, office were closed up, but the waiting room still was open. We left Tom with the luggage and Millie, Bea and I went looking for a phone to call ship's agent to find out where the ship was.

At a nearby hotel we started, the clerk knew no English, but he tried valiantly to help. Jones was the name of the agent, but the number we had was no good. There is no info dept. or phone co. We wanted to contact the park authority who might give us some info. The clerk finally spotted, "Maritimas" in the phone book, phoned it, and asked for Mr. Jones phone no. They had it! A contact was made with Mr. Jones and he told us the ship was in Talcahuano (pronounced: Talca WANA) the Chilean Navel Base 17 KM away. He was sure we could go thru the base to our ship if we had our passports, we did. Our spirits picked up as we hired a taxi. We checked at the gate of the naval base headquaters and were given definite directions to our ship. Apparently, Mr. Jones had phoned to expect us. Man o' Man did that bed feel good. It was one-forty five in the morning.

Saturday, January 23, 1965 Talcahuano, Chile

Today, large sacks of flour are being unloaded, donation by the U.S. to the starving Chileans. Some of the passengers walked the short distance over to the highway where they took the bus, after waiting an hour, to Concepcion. The town observes the "English Holiday" so little shopping can be done on Saturday afternoon.

Sunday, January 24, 1965 Talcahuano, Chile

Still unloading sacks of flour. Weather still beautiful. No rain since we left San Francisco December 14th. Temperature cool, very enjoyable. At 5 PM unloading had been completed and hatches closed and the ship took off. The pilot who will take the ship thru the inside passage and Strait came on board bringing his wife who will be with us until we reach Puenta Arenas. He does not go to work until we turn into the channel 390 miles away.

South American Tour: Valparaiso and Santiago Chile

Wednesday, January 20th 1965, Valparaiso Chile

The ship docked at six am. It is Chile's main port and her second largest city with 220,000 population. The city is divided into two parts. The business section lives on the flat level piece of land on the inner circle of the amphitheater of hills. The 41 hills using 1000 to 1400 feet sharply behind the downtown area are each a city within themselves with their winding streets and step cobbled lanes. 20 ascensores (funiculars) and roads link them with downtown section. We hired at taxi and guide from a group that came on board. We were able to buy Chilean money from taxi driver at four escudos to $1.00 U. S., the official rate is 3.2/3.5 to 1, so we bought $200. We drove to the top of one of the hills and had a wonderful view of the bay and town then thru the business area to Vina del Mar. Here we registered at Bernardo O'Higgins Hotel, Then drove along the beaches to Con Con, another resort and back to Hotel at 3 P.M. for lunch. We had given the guide money to buy R.R. tickets to Santiago and he was to meet us at 7:15 AM on the morrow. On second thought, it could go sour as appointments to in S.A., so Millie and Bea walked the 2 blocks to R.R. station with the guide and took the tickets. We relaxed for an hour and then all four strolled down the main business street. We were not alone, it appeared. that all the families in town turned out to do the same thing. Many of the guide books mention it is not kosher for ladies to wear slakes on the streets. Actually, at lest one out of ten wore them. It was light until nearly nine which was the time we returned to Hotel. Freshened up a bit and ate in main dinning room.

Thursday January 21, 1965 Nina del Mar-Santiago, Chile

Up at 6:30. The guide was waiting in lobby. We paid hotel bill. The guide instructed the porter what to do with luggage and we left. I thought we would take a taxi, but the Station was just across the plaza, so we walked. We boarded a very nice electric train leaving at 7:40 for the 116 mile, 2.5 hour ride to Santiago. When the conductor came thru we told him we wanted breakfast. He knew wanted to eat but that was all he figured out. He left and came back shortly with a waiter who was not a linguist, and a man who might have been a maitre d'. He acted as interpreter in getting our needs into 'espanol' for the waiter. The breakfast was served at our seats on trays, airplane style. Before we arrived in

Santiago we had become better acquainted with our linguist - he was a Valparaiso business man who spent one day a week in Santiago. He stayed with us until 6 PM and certainly was a big help with the language barrier. We arrived in Santiago, the Capital of Chile about 10 am. We took taxi to Kent Hotel on Avenida Huerfanos. After registering and stowing our baggage we walked to a travel bureau in Cervera Hilton Hotel to arrange for trip to Chilian lake area. There we were told that all planes in southern Chile were booked solid for the next 30 days - mid-summer vacation travel, you know. So we decided to rejoin ship at Talcahuana and ordered and paid for R.R. tickets for tomorrow. The tickets were to be delivered to our hotel. Mr. Valenzuela took us to Union Club for lunch, then a taxi tour to see the capital. It is the largest city in South America with 2,000,000, altitude 1700 feet. There are no negroes here and very few in the entire country. Hired taxi and toured city, and ended by motoring up the winding road to the top of Cerro San Custobal. Here are excellent views of the city from many angles. Then back to hotel for rest it was 7:30 and the sun still high in the sky.

South American Tour: Iquique and Antofagasta, Chile

Saturday, January 16th, 1965 Iquique, Chile

50 Peso = $0.013 U.S.

Altho we are still in the tropical zone and it is now mid-summer the weather is quite cool with a stiff wind blowing. The ship moved to the dock in Iquique, Chile to unload 42 tons of cargo. As soon as we were cleared we went down the gangplank and walked to town about 3/4 mile away. One half hour was spent in the local post office purchasing stamps for letters and cards. An increase in postal rates had gone into effect that morning stamps seem to be the one product that costs more money than US counterpart. It was Sat. afternoon. "English Holiday" it is called and all stores are closed. The town is a busheling seaport sitting on a narrow plane between the Andes and the sea. The mountains are completely bare and brown in color and start up at the town's edge. Iquique is near the country's nitrate and iodine mining center. We returned by taxi shortly before 5 PM and ship left at 5:35 PM.

Sunday, January 17th, 1965 Antofagasta, Chile

222 miles south of Iquique we sailed into the large crescent shaped bay on which Antofagasta is located and anchored in the harbor at 9:30 AM. Last Thursday a ship on the dock blew up when a cylinder of propane gas was dropped and exploded. The fumes reached the galley stove and that was it. Several men volunteered to cart the liner and then it was towed away from the dock where it burned all night with the cylinders popping like bombs. In the morning it sank and only the top of one of the cranes is above water. Eight men died in the accident and all the other stevedores took a three day holiday. Hence we didn't come.

The passengers were cleared by immigration and 9 went ashore in a water taxi. Millie and I stayed aboard and napped. We will go in tomorrow when the stores are open. The city was founded in 1870 following the discovery of nitrates nearby. It now has a population of more than 100,000. It seldom rains here and the climate is temperate and dry. The tropic of Capricorn passes a few miles north of here, so we are now out of the tropics and in the south temperate zone. The town is built on the side of hills which rise abruptly for miles from the sea into steep mountains. The town extends along this incline for many miles. Antofagasta is a beautiful sight, well lighted and easy to see from offshore due to gradual rise in elevation towards the steep Andes. Tonight it was especially intriguing as a full moon rose over the Andes and flodded the city with moonlight.

Monday, January 18th, 1965 Antofagasta, Chile

When we awoke at 7:30 the ship had firthed at the "U" shape dock that holds at least eight large ships. After breakfast most of the passengers went to town. There wasn't a taxi in sight and believe me most of the taxis in this and the other towns are a sight. Many are pre-war American cars. When they loose a fender it is lost-period. No replacements. New cars cost 2 and 1/2 times original US selling price. We walked a mile to the Antofagasta Hotel an excellent one, owned and operated by the Chilean government. We were looking for Tom and Bea as they did not return to ship last night. The desk clerk told us they were not registered. Later when shown the name "FINNERTY" printed in block letters he recognized it and said they were in room 526. We were concerned because we were told they had gone off last evening with a chap who was "loco." Later we met the "loco." and the was a 200 pound American mining enginer who is building an 8" oil pipeline over the Andes between Bolivia and Antofagasta. 

We were told the ship would sail at 11 am so we ordered a taxi for 10:30. We waited and waited it showed up at 11:50 after bellboy went after it. As usual the ship was delayed and we left at 2 PM. It is rather discouraging when there are so many things we would like to do and strange places to see and then loose so many hours thru poor decisions and errors. For diversion, while waiting, we noticed a cow swimming in the center of the "U" docks. A ship opposite ours was loading cattle and one of them unhappy with accommodations jumped overboard. (Boy, that must have been a strange nautical exclamation in Japanese "Cow Overboard.") One sailor went over the side to bring it back. He didn't dare grab it for the dangers of being kicked but tried to steer it by splashing water in it's face. The main problem being the cow was a better and faster swimmer. Later another sailor joined the water ballet. They finally got the cow between the bow of the ship and the dock and other sailors blocked off escape. We couldn't see the finale of this drama of the cow and sea, but it was different from our nautical adventures.

Back on the Pacific the sea is glass smooth with long rooling swells. The ship is doing quite a job of pitching. At five PM Hazel Lewis and Marian Pease entertained with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. Dinner at six, bridge at seven.