Breath Deeply.

The human ability to detect scent is remarkable. I recognize, it is nowhere near as keen as many animals such as dogs, but it is still pretty amazing. Today we rode from Puerto Montt to the Osorno Volcano; a ride of about 80 km each way. On the way we moved from a port city through the country side and eventually arrived at the parking lot above the tree line for a ski hill set up on the Volcano. In doing so we passed from sea level to about 700 metres. Along the way we caught whiffs of smoke from barbecues, various industrial smells, flowers, and many times a basil smell as well as some other herbs. Most of these were detected in one or two breaths and then there was something new.  We certainly could not always identify the source but the palate of odours was part of the experience.

do.

Taste is dominated by the sense of smell so it is only a small leap to talk about the food in Chile.  We have been quite pragmatic about food and have eaten what is convenient and have not really encountered totally traditional Chilean food. Breakfasts have been at the hotels which is usually a continental buffet of yeast breads, often sliced ham or other meat, some cheese, yoghurt, some cereal and a variety of sweet pastries. There is often jam and gloriously the Chileans (among others) have claimed dulce de leche as traditional spread for bread so it is usually there for breakfast. 

Based on our small sample so far and the bookings ahead it seems that the service industry has attracted a large number of people with german ancestry. Consequently there is quite a bit of germanic influence; kuchen, schnitzel, etc with restaurants like the family Weiss in Bariloche or Blumenau Hotel in Osorno. We have eaten empanadas a few times,  a chicken and potatoes meal at a hostel and in Argentina I ordered a steak and all that came was a slab of meat (and some pre-dinner buns).  Last night we went to another German run restaurant and I ate Salmon and King Crab in a cream sauce and ordered a side plate of veggies and some rice. The fish was spectacular and the vegetables were very fresh. Interestingly they were subtle differences. The cucumber for example was slightly salty perhaps and the avocado, well it was fresh so that does not count. So to date we have not found any food really unusual but there is certainly not the wide range of world food we are accustom to in Canada.  Onions do figure prominently in the food and there is a spice quite close to cumin but not sure it is the same; a bit of a cinnamon tang.

Coffee is generally a disappointment and I take it primarily for medicinal purposes in the morning. I rarely have more than one cup. There are a few exceptions but instant coffee has been the standard here for many years so there is opportunity for growth. 

There is a wide variety of teas including several herbal teas so Alex is enjoying that.  And of course there is wine.  We have actually drunk more beer than wine and found a variety of regional artesanal beers. 

South Americans tend to eat late in the evening so now at 1930 local people will just be thinking about going out for food. Which is what I am going to do.