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Tragic Fire in Puerto Varas
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Puerto Varas Chile
The Hotel Colonos Del Sur was a beautiful dark wood building...
 The colonos hotel before the fireThe grand old lady is gone. The Colonos del Sur hotel, once a statement of luxury and ambience in Puerto Varas is no more. On the lakefront next to the casino, the hotel provided luxury accommodations for tourists for many years, but early in the morning of March 12, fire swept through the historic three story wooden building. Volunteer bomberos fought the fire from around 4AM with everything they had confining the fire to the upper stories. However, extensive smoke and water damage appear to have pretty well finished the destruction.
The Hotel Colonos Del Sur was a beautiful dark wood building that graced the end of the Puerto Varas town park, looking out over Lago Llanquihue. The bar and restaurant had large windows where one could enjoy a glass of good wine or a delicious meal while the sunset cast beautiful fiery golden hues across Volcano Osorno in the distance. Steak Tartare or Aubergine & Chicken Lasagna were well known special dinners while the bar and wine cellar boasted wonderful refreshments for any visitor. Fire damage to top floors and major water and debris damage to restaurant and bar on ground floor.
 Bomberos fighting the fire at the front of the hotel. Fortunately not one was injured or killed in the fire that grew to three alarms in the early morning hours. Smoke from the fire drifted lazily out over the lake marking the end of an era in Puerto Varas. Bomberos worked most of the day to keep the smoldering timbers from reigniting, pouring more water over what was left of the hotel and the restaurant below. A sad ending to a grand place. It will be missed.

 Firefighting going on next to the casino (on left).The bomberos – Chile’s volunteer heroes when it comes to fire.

JC Bailey has been a professional writer for 24 years. His enthusiasm for travel is surpassed by his childlike wonder at unusual finds along the way. Finding the ultimate tranquility of the southern world, he is currently living and traveling in Chile.

 

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