Santiago and Valpariso

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Arrived in Santiago after a 13 hour flight from Madrid on Iberian Air. It must rank at the lower end of the world airlines with its poor quality food and service. BA, having taken it over, have got their work cut out if they want to improve its image.

Managed to get a few hours of sightseeing in following our arrival, including a visit to main square in the centre known as the Plaza de Armas which is at the heart of this modern city. The city centre square and the surrounding streets were a hive of activity with many shoppers, tourists and street vendors. The city cathedral, known as Catedral Metropolitana, is one of the oldest buildings dominating the square and has a very European feel to it. The catholic religion is the dominant religion throughout the country and outside of the cathedral is a large statue of the late Pope Paul.

There are many glass tower blocks throughout the city and it could be mistaken for a progressive modern European city with of course all the associated traffic problems; although the city has a very modern, clean and effective metro system.

The following day´s sightseeing was a trip to the port of Valparariso on the Pacific coast and this was certainly a contrast. On the way to the port we stopped at at a vineyard situated in one of Chile's main wine production areas. The UK is the leading country for the import of Chilean wine and one could not go through the area without tasting the fruits of the local vineyards. We started by doing the usual wine tour, followed by tasting and then a decent meal with further wine. We were well set up for an afternoon of sightseeing in Valpariso.

The port was the greatest in the South Pacific in the 1800s and many Brits settled in the city to make their fortunes. However it was downhill all the way following a devasting Spanish attack in 1861, subsequent earthquakes and the opening of the Panama Canal. It is a complete contrast to Santiago with its run down buildings, which in some cases are adorned with Banksy type graffiti. It still has old trolley buses as well as several furniculars for transporting the locals up and down the steep slopes of the city.But it is unique and thus the reason for it being classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Well worth a visit

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Photos

Coffee and Ice cream
John and Sue at a cafe in the main square

Street stall selling necklaces.
Margaret and Sue at the necklace stall

Modern Santiago
In the foreground is the Hotel Radisson where we stayed

Queen Victoria Hotel, Valpariso
Situated in the centre of the city by the port

New within the Old
Due to the UNESCO status of the city of Valpariso most of the old buildings are protected. In this case the facade was saved and a modern building constructed inside

One of the furniculars
There are several of these throughout Valpariso but they are very old and rickety

John in rescue capsule
At the naval museum in Valpariso is the rescue capsule used to bring up the miners trapped in the mine last year

Comments

[George]

Ahoy Fellow Traveller!
Looks great Dad, Emma and I love the modern building within the old facade. Do you know if they rebuilt the presidential palace which Allende died in during the coup? Look forward too the next instalment. Love George.xx