VALPARAISO

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Supposed to dock at 5.30a.m. but ended up getting the ship on port around 8.00a.m., broken crane had to be removed/repaired - docked in working port - bused to port terminal around 2 miles. Been here around 2006 when we went to Santiago the first time. Very cute place - with all the unique houses scaling the surrounding hills, from the ship you can see numerous fununculars. Teamed up with 5 other couples, three from the world cruise 2012, and off we headed for a fun day. Very lucky we are with Carlos - Spanish/Chinese decent - living in San Fran - knows the lingo - so caught the local bus up to the plaza - first stop a pharmacy so people could stock up on prescription drugs etc - then took a walk through the old town with all the locals shopping and going about their daily chores. Then caught a fununcular from near the plaza up to the Belle de Artes - what a beautiful view over the port - had coffee in a local restaurant - so unique and gorgeous. Then a long walk across town to another fununcular - which was closed - so had to take the hill road, hundreds of steps up to the Maritime Museum - then lunch in a local restaurant. Carlos and Julie picked it as they had been here a few times before - to be treated with the local signature dish "Pastel de Jaibas" - "crab pie" - stunning!!! Beers and a couple of wines - very satisfied.

After our fantastic lunch some wanted to head back to the ship, but we said we would catch them all later and decided to take the Metro Train around to Vina del Mar - the new part of the area - while on the platform waiting for a train a guy walked up to us and asked if we spoke English - Yes?? - then asked where we were from etc - he lives in Altona Meadows but was born in Chile but has lived in Australia for 35 years, and has the family house here - anyway after a lot of talking he said he would get off with us and show us around at the Miramar stop - then asked us to his house - as we all piled into a taxi - yes I did think - am I hopping in here with an axe murderer!! he seemed so genuine and so friendly and John had asked him a lot of questions - so away we went - winding our way up high on the hill to his home - had a lovely cold beer with him out on his patio overlooking the bay and beaches of the area, and then back downtown for a walking tour of the area. Louis really topped off our day in Valparaiso!! What a gorgeous guy!

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Photos

STREET ART
Lovely street art up on the hills

MANY, MANY MURALS
Amazing murals everywhere!

SO MANY CUTE RESTAURANTS AND BARS
So pretty!!

WALKING UP ONE OF THE HILLS
more art!

LOUIS'S PATIO
Beer overlooking Valparaiso!

OLD TOWN
Plaza Mayor

OLD TOWN
Old outside, new inside!

VIEW FROM OUR COFFEE HOUSE
Looks a bit like a party house!

MORNING COFFEE
lovely view from here!

OLD TOWN
Electric trams

PLAZA MAYOR
Cop car covered windows with wire mesh, should we be worried?

LANES AND ALLEYS
With gorgeous gardens and restaurants!

OUR LUNCH CREW
Had a lot of fun with these guys!

Comments

[Kaz]

Hi
Gee stay safe carnt wait to catch up so much to tell yous xx