Plaza Munoz Gamero

Situated in the Straight of Magellan, Punta Arenas is the southernmost city of Chile. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, ships sailed through the straight avoiding the wild waters around Cape Horn. Punta Arenas was once an important stop along this route for provisions. We stroll Plaza Munoz Gamero, the main square, where a statue of explorer Ferdinand Magellan stands above an array of vendors selling knitted hats and sweaters made of sheep’s wool and alpaca. I stop to admire a knitted hat and speak with a mother and her daughter. The little girl peers out from the window of their booth. She tells me she is learning English at school and I tell her I am studying Spanish. We take a few minutes to practice together, talking about the rich wool and the hats. As I go on to stroll the streets near the plaza, I admire the elegant mansions of wealthy sheep farmers and a charming cathedral. Along other streets, I am surprised by a variety of colorful murals.

Plaza Munoz Gamero: Colorful knitted hats and sweaters