Isla Mancera

The other day twelve us gave up our free Friday to go with our history professor to the old spanish fort on the Isla Mancera. The isla is just across one of the rivers from Niebla, the beach 20min outside of Valdivia, that we always head to. We took a micro out of town and then a boat over to the island. In the summer, the population of the island is over 1,000. Currently it is about 300. 

Yes that is Max pouring us the first cup of mate for the day..on a boat

We didn't find out about this until later, but while the fort was just up the hill and to right from the boat dock, we were led up the hill and to the left. The walk was nice though, the houses eclectic, the sheep roaming free.

            

We finally made it up to the fort. It was built in the 18th century by slaves and indigenous persons for the Spanish who then sat around and waited for attacks from England, Holland, and pirates. The attacks never came. A neat story of history there. The ruins are of the governor's house, the church, the ammunition storage, and the prisoners' cave

Nice digs, gov'ner

Church:The triangle of stones on the ground used to be above the arch but fell in perfect formation during an earthquake 

subterranean ammunition storage

No prisoners left in the hole, aw shucks.

Guard Tower

 We played "How many gringos fit inside this tiny tower" 11.

 The half-moon erosion you see on the beach is from the tsunami waves the beach has received over the years on account of earthquakes. Interesting fact: a wave caused by the Japan earthquake this year reached the beach 22 hours after.

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