Hi, Everyone, We had a bit more activity after our lazy day yesterday so thought I would post some updates on our activities and also the link to some pictures that I uploaded to my Picasa website so as not to overload the blog and if pictures don't interest you then you can take a pass. I will likely keep doing this as it is easier to upload to Picasa/Google.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sallyfulton47/ChileSantiagoAndVinaDelMarValparaiso#
After a somewhat quiet day yesterday, healing after my sun exposure (right back to normal glow today ;)today we did our tour and it was very interesting. We toured Vina del Mar and then over to Valparaiso (can't distinguish the line between, somewhat like TO) and what a difference. Vina is where the Santiaguinos come to spend the summer and many own apartments here on the ocean. Valparaiso is the very old port city and carried that character. I would suggest Valpo more bohemian and Vina more bourgeoisie. We rode the 100 year old funicular up to the Navy Academy and it stayed on track the whole way. There was a bit of a craft market at the top where I was able to buy a small watercolor of the site. What an interesting city, built on the very steep hills coming down from the Coastal Mountains to the sea. In the earthquake of 1906 most of the city was absorbed by the Pacific and when you see the cityscape today with the amazing multi-colored houses on the hills one can only wonder how vulnerable they would be to another 'tierra moto'. Near the hotel Vina boasts a "flower clock". Given that we see so many of them at home, we weren't overly impressed but today discovered why it is always mentioned by everyone when praising their city. It was installed in commemoration of the World Cup being held here in 1962. Given that all of South America is football crazy and Chile is definitely no exception, this explained it. On our Andes tour we met a Brazilian couple who remembered that year only too well as Brazil won. We were dazzled by their recall but then remembered how many Canadians would be able to remember the details of Stanley Cups or World Championships in hockey.
Tonight we went to a great seafood restaurant for dinner. We asked the concierge for a place that he would go to that was informal but good seafood and he chose perfectly for us. We made a reservation for 8:00, by ourselves, as usual and when we left at 10:00, having taken our time and enjoying it hugely, the restaurant was filling up with locals and many of them with school age kids, just sitting down to dinner at 9:30 or 10:00 and that really means 10:30 or 11 before actually eating dinner. We were just beginning to feel very adult having dinner at 8:30 or 9!!!! My salmon might have been the best ever and Maggie would say the same of her sole. There is just something about fish caught and eaten the same day.
I have posted a picture here of our hotel with the pubic beach in the foreground and one of the navy ships offshore (about 10 of them are in the Bay doing manoeuvres). It is really funny to see this crowded beach with loads of coloured beach umbrellas on a very hot day with all of these people just standing on the edge of the surf. The Humboldt Current brings very cold antarctic waters to the beach and only the very hardiest will venture into the surf beyond their thighs. The kids may try to do a little body-surfing but not for long. It looks like a beachfront on shark watch but apparently these waters are too cold even for them. Temp was in high 20s today so it does seem strange to see.
We will likely use tomorrow morning for some errands as we want to check out a pharmacia (just for the fun of it ;) and maybe the art museum before we head to the ship on Saturday. You all stay well and we will talk to you soon. xoxoxo
Hi, Everyone, We had a bit more activity after our lazy day yesterday so thought I would post some updates on our activities and also the link to some pictures that I uploaded to my Picasa website so as not to overload the blog and if pictures don't interest you then you can take a pass. I will likely keep doing this as it is easier to upload to Picasa/Google.
http://picasaweb.google.com/sallyfulton47/ChileSantiagoAndVinaDelMarValparaiso#
After a somewhat quiet day yesterday, healing after my sun exposure (right back to normal glow today ;)today we did our tour and it was very interesting. We toured Vina del Mar and then over to Valparaiso (can't distinguish the line between, somewhat like TO) and what a difference. Vina is where the Santiaguinos come to spend the summer and many own apartments here on the ocean. Valparaiso is the very old port city and carried that character. I would suggest Valpo more bohemian and Vina more bourgeoisie. We rode the 100 year old funicular up to the Navy Academy and it stayed on track the whole way. There was a bit of a craft market at the top where I was able to buy a small watercolor of the site. What an interesting city, built on the very steep hills coming down from the Coastal Mountains to the sea. In the earthquake of 1906 most of the city was absorbed by the Pacific and when you see the cityscape today with the amazing multi-colored houses on the hills one can only wonder how vulnerable they would be to another 'tierra moto'. Near the hotel Vina boasts a "flower clock". Given that we see so many of them at home, we weren't overly impressed but today discovered why it is always mentioned by everyone when praising their city. It was installed in commemoration of the World Cup being held here in 1962. Given that all of South America is football crazy and Chile is definitely no exception, this explained it. On our Andes tour we met a Brazilian couple who remembered that year only too well as Brazil won. We were dazzled by their recall but then remembered how many Canadians would be able to remember the details of Stanley Cups or World Championships in hockey.
Tonight we went to a great seafood restaurant for dinner. We asked the concierge for a place that he would go to that was informal but good seafood and he chose perfectly for us. We made a reservation for 8:00, by ourselves, as usual and when we left at 10:00, having taken our time and enjoying it hugely, the restaurant was filling up with locals and many of them with school age kids, just sitting down to dinner at 9:30 or 10:00 and that really means 10:30 or 11 before actually eating dinner. We were just beginning to feel very adult having dinner at 8:30 or 9!!!! My salmon might have been the best ever and Maggie would say the same of her sole. There is just something about fish caught and eaten the same day.
I have posted a picture here of our hotel with the pubic beach in the foreground and one of the navy ships offshore (about 10 of them are in the Bay doing manoeuvres). It is really funny to see this crowded beach with loads of coloured beach umbrellas on a very hot day with all of these people just standing on the edge of the surf. The Humboldt Current brings very cold antarctic waters to the beach and only the very hardiest will venture into the surf beyond their thighs. The kids may try to do a little body-surfing but not for long. It looks like a beachfront on shark watch but apparently these waters are too cold even for them. Temp was in high 20s today so it does seem strange to see.
We will likely use tomorrow morning for some errands as we want to check out a pharmacia (just for the fun of it ;) and maybe the art museum before we head to the ship on Saturday. You all stay well and we will talk to you soon. xoxoxo
It is -19 in the County today so enjoy the sun and say Hi from us!
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