Today was a long day since we spent almost 12 hours on a tour to Vena Del Mar and Valparaiso both on the Pacific Ocean. We were picked up at the hotel at around 8:00 am and after joining a bigger group in a bigger tourist bus, we then left Santiago heading due west to the ocean. First observation is that Santiago is a very modern capital with high rises and very clean parks and streets... it is truly a beautiful city and is one of the best i have visited in South America yet... But as you leave Santiago you then realize that Chile is still a developing country and not everything is as good as Santiago... The second observation is regarding the landscape and climate. Right outside of Santiago heading west, the landscape is very dry and almost desert like, as you cross the first hills, you end up in a nice valley full wineries. Then another change occurs again as you cross the second set of hills, now all of sudden you have large trees and a dense forest until the ocean... only 20% of Chile land is agricultural the rest is for mining, forests and desert ... Chile has a very long coast along the pacific from the border with Peru to Antarctica ... so fishing is huge for the economy as well. We stopped in Casablanca valley at a winery for a very short time. Chile makes great wines sold world wide. After that stop, we headed to Vine Del Mar and Valparaiso on the coast. The two neighboring cities a similar but different at the same time. One is a tourist destination in the summer because of its beaches and fancy hotels, Vine Del Mar, the other one is rather poor, artistic and chaotic, Valparaiso!
Valparaiso is also known as the cultural capital of Chile ... We had a wonderful lunch at a beach restaurant. The food was great and the setting was awesome ! After lunch, we headed to Valparaiso for a walk and a boat ride in the bay .. the bus dropped us high above the port and we needed to walk and take the fenucular to get where we want to go. The boat ride was ok not spectacular... once we were done, we headed back to Santiago the same way we came. The ride back was longer because of rush hour traffic in Santiago!! After a short rest at the hotel, we went out to the mall nearby for a light dinner.. it was fish again .....
Tomorrow Buenos Aires Argentina .....
In the harbor on a small boat
Large container ships in the harbor
Navy ships also in the harbot
Seals enjoying some attention
Pretty home in Valparaiso
Amazing murals all over Valparaiso
German house in Valparaiso
Pretty home with murals
Homes painted with different colors
Beautiful murals everywhere
Hotels all over in Vine Del Mar
Pisco sour for lunch
Big waves and rocky shores with seals
Beautiful palm trees all along the way
Water fron properties in Vine Del Mar
The flower clock Vine Del Mar
Vineyard in Casablanca valley
