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Robinson Crusoe Island - Jan. 9, 2016

Spent a day on Robinson Crusoe Island, largest island in the Chilean Jan Fernandez Archipelago. It's 419 miles off the coast of Chile. In 1704 sailor Alexander Selkirk was marooned as a castaway and lived in solitude for 4 years and 4 months. It is visited by ferry, small plane, and cruise ships, with tourists numbering in the hundreds per year. Estimated population in 2011 was 859. It was named a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1977 and is home to Magellanic Penquins and an endangered hummingbird. I knew I would love it, as the small places usually turn out to be the best places for me on a cruise.
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We are up early for breakfast in our favorite venue, outside on the Terrace
We are up early for breakfast in our favorite venue, outside on the Terrace		 Couldn't find out much about the island pre-cruise except it had one street that headed uphill; we saw that from ship.
Couldn't find out much about the island pre-cruise except it had one street that headed uphill; we saw that from ship.		 Weather looks a little iffy
Weather looks a little iffy		 Tenders are down & I'm ready to explore like Alexander Selkirk did in 1704
Tenders are down & I'm ready to explore like Alexander Selkirk did in 1704		 Fewer than 900 inhabitants, not much infrastructure, no tours from ship or otherwise but lots of flowers & plants.
Fewer than 900 inhabitants, not much infrastructure, no tours from ship or otherwise but lots of flowers & plants.		 It was a short tender ride to the town pier.
It was a short tender ride to the town pier.
This is what you see first. No food allowed ashore; had to fill out agricultural form for 2d time.
This is what you see first. No food allowed ashore; had to fill out agricultural form for 2d time. 		Beautiful!
Beautiful!		 Fishermen with nice catch at pier.
Fishermen with nice catch at pier.		 Chilean police and other boats were bobbing in the harbor.
Chilean police and other boats were bobbing in the harbor.		 Near the pier flowers and boats caught my eye.
Near the pier flowers and boats caught my eye.		 I love boats.
I love boats.
And I love flowers, even familiar ones.
And I love flowers, even familiar ones.		 Boats & flowers even better - and good to see re-building after the big 2010 tsunami.
Boats & flowers even better - and good to see re-building after the big 2010 tsunami.		 One of the workers apparently rode a horse to the worksite this morning. Roads here are few.
One of the workers apparently rode a horse to the worksite this morning. Roads here are few. 		A family picnic/recreation area was being built or rebuilt by the water.
A family picnic/recreation area was being built or rebuilt by the water.		 Marina looked pretty nice anchored in the shadow of the mountains.
Marina looked pretty nice anchored in the shadow of the mountains.		 A little lighthouse, Marina, cliffs.
A little lighthouse, Marina, cliffs.
Believe this is El Yunque - one cruiser we met later hiked up there.
Believe this is El Yunque - one cruiser we met later hiked up there. 		Lobster traps on left, lobster restaurant on right
Lobster traps on left, lobster restaurant on right		 Cemetery was interesting - locals and WWI fighters buried there.
Cemetery was interesting - locals and WWI fighters buried there.		 Many houses look better than boats. That's because much of town was rebuilt after 2010 tsunami.
Many houses look better than boats. That's because much of town was rebuilt after 2010 tsunami.		 Sun tried to come out & Robinson Crusoe became even prettier.
Sun tried to come out & Robinson Crusoe became even prettier. 		Remnants of past battles remain.
Remnants of past battles remain.
Evacuation route was up only real highway - up the mountain.
Evacuation route was up only real highway - up the mountain.		 Calla lillies & other flowers grew wild everywhere.
Calla lillies & other flowers grew wild everywhere.		 Near the church I followed the sign up a flower-filled path to the cannons.
Near the church I followed the sign up a flower-filled path to the cannons.		 A husky watched me as I passed a house.
A husky watched me as I passed a house.		 There turned out to be five huskies.
There turned out to be five huskies.		 Easy but uphill walk brought me to cannons overlooking the town pier and bay.
Easy but uphill walk brought me to cannons overlooking the town pier and bay.
At first I thought I was in Texas.
At first I thought I was in Texas. 		Ruth at cannons
Ruth at cannons 		Went back to Marina to get Howard to go back out to look for lunch. This guy was cooking it.
Went back to Marina to get Howard to go back out to look for lunch. This guy was cooking it.		 Lobsters were cooking in a pot. The island is home to spiny lobsters.
Lobsters were cooking in a pot. The island is home to spiny lobsters.		 Mas a Terra Eco Lodge where we ate lobsters ($20 each). Chef is minding his boiling pot.
Mas a Terra Eco Lodge where we ate lobsters ($20 each). Chef is minding his boiling pot. 		We enjoyed our lobsters, but quite honestly, the ones on Marina were better.
We enjoyed our lobsters, but quite honestly, the ones on Marina were better.
Ruth holding up soon-to-be-lunch for the next 2 people to stop here.
Ruth holding up soon-to-be-lunch for the next 2 people to stop here.		 Found the little post office. Had to wait 5 mins. (I was told it opened for 5 minutes only every hour on the hour.)
Found the little post office. Had to wait 5 mins. (I was told it opened for 5 minutes only every hour on the hour.) 		Bought couple postcards with leftover Chilean pesos, had cards lobster-stamped & mailed. Mine arrived home about 10 days later.
Bought couple postcards with leftover Chilean pesos, had cards lobster-stamped & mailed. Mine arrived home about 10 days later.		 This bar & restaurant near the post office was filled with happy cruisers.
This bar & restaurant near the post office was filled with happy cruisers.		 Many of the rebuilt houses & buildings were really beautiful. The artwork on this one caught my eye too.
Many of the rebuilt houses & buildings were really beautiful. The artwork on this one caught my eye too.		 Religious monument, left side of town near police station
Religious monument, left side of town near police station
Horse must be a good way to get around on this island with one main street.
Horse must be a good way to get around on this island with one main street.		 Climbed a path up to caves, finding pretty houses & passing a man who greeted me with Hola.
Climbed a path up to caves, finding pretty houses & passing a man who greeted me with "Hola."		 From up near the caves the boats in harbor looked quite small.
From up near the caves the boats in harbor looked quite small.		 Patriots Caves where patriots fighting for Chilean independence hid. Selkirk's cave was on other side of island.
Patriots Caves where patriots fighting for Chilean independence hid. Selkirk's cave was on other side of island. 		Boats and flowers.
Boats and flowers.		 Rusted things
Rusted things
Seaweed was everywhere near the shore
Seaweed was everywhere near the shore		 Really green
Really green		 Road down to harbor only holds one car.
Road down to harbor only holds one car.		 Nobody visits San Juan Bautista without seeing this road.
Nobody visits San Juan Bautista without seeing this road.		 Ruth saying goodbye to Robinson Crusoe island after a wonderful day there.
Ruth saying goodbye to Robinson Crusoe island after a wonderful day there. 		After that we cruised 4 days to get to Easter Island, never passing another ship or lighthouse, and passing very few birds.
After that we cruised 4 days to get to Easter Island, never passing another ship or lighthouse, and passing very few birds.
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