Day 278
We had to leave La Serena for central Chile. We wanted to catch some seaside air and enjoy one of Chile’s prime cities.
In the afternoon we had to take a Turbus to Valparaiso. It was three hours late which was very annoying. At least we got company from some stray dogs. Those dogs are a big issue around Chile (as they have been in Peru and Bolivia). There are dogs everywhere! Nobody is really interested in them or takes notice of them. So they live a life right among humans and hang out on city streets.
Anyways. The bus eventually arrived, we boarded and hit the road. A rough 8-9 hours later we arrived in Valparaiso. Exhausted and very tired we took a cab to our lodging, Casa Kultour.
Day 279
Wow, we had probably the best breakfast in a long time. This was all thanks to the German owned hostel we were staying. Felt really good.
In the early afternoon we decided to go on a guided city tour–Tour for Tips. The tour was free but they ask for tips at the end. A pretty decent business model I reckon.
Built upon dozens of steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Valparaíso boasts a labyrinth of streets and cobblestone alleyways, embodying a rich architectural and cultural legacy. Valparaíso is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nicknamed “The Jewel of the Pacific”, Valparaíso was declared a world heritage site based upon its improvised urban design and unique architecture. In 1996, the World Monuments Fund declared Valparaíso’s unusual system of funicular elevators (highly-inclined cable cars) one of the world’s 100 most endangered historical treasures.
We started the tour at the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique on Plaza Sotomayor. Then wandered nearby streets and the harbour before using one of the funicular elevators to get up Cerro Alegre (this is also the hill where our hostel was located). Several funiculars – locally called ascensores – provide public transport service between the central area and the neighbourhoods atop the surrounding hills. You get some excellent views from there.
The tour was very informative and our guide gave some good advice of what restaurants and pubs we should check out.
We finished the tour a couple of hours later at Bellavista district/hill where we had some pisco sour and enjoyed a local painter’s masterpieces drawn on nearby stairs.
The rest of the day we teamed up with most of the other people from the tour: We checked out Valparaisos Irish Pub–lots of beers but no Guinness!? We continued and had fine food at a restaurant on Cerro Alegre!
Day 280
Bettina and I spend another sunny day walking around town having closer looks at the harbour side. Since I ditched my original plan and skipped the wreck diving we had more time to walk up down a few more hills (great vistas and cute cats included).
Day 281
Farewell fancy breakfast! Hello Turbus to Santiago! This was just a short trip of 1.5 hours.
I was really looking forward to being in a huge city again. Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile with a population of 5.5M. Although Santiago is the capital, the National Congress of Chile meets in the coastal town of Valparaíso. Santiago is one of Latin America’s most modern metropolitan areas, with extensive suburban development, dozens of shopping centers, and impressive high-rise architecture. It has a very modern transport infrastructure, including the steadily growing underground Santiago Metro.
It was hot. Very hot indeed. The public thermometers read 37 C. A little bit much for my taste but little did we know what was waiting in Argentina a few days later…
But first things first: We arrived at the main bus station and took the metro. What a feeling–being able to take ‘a’ metro. We went to the lovely Bellasartes district in town and checked into a nice dorm at Santiago Backpackers.
In the later afternoon hours we went on a sightseeing trip of downtown Santiago: Plaza de Armas, shopping streets, fish and fruit market and lots of other government buildings were on our route. I really like what I saw. Nice city. Nice people.
Ah yeah: You get a liter bottle of beer for very reasonable prices there. Makes a perfect excuse for early afternoon drinks (onces!)….
Day 282
Yet another very beautiful day was awaiting. We headed to the Moneda Presidential Palace and joined a Spicy Chile Tour which is yet another guided city tour based on tips. Very cool.
The tour was named: Good Morning Santiago. Carla was our guide and did a great job showing us around and giving good insights into Chiles history and political issues. She pointed out important architecture and other interesting buildings and parks.
Those 4 hours flew just by while we covered La Moneda Palace, Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Museum, Bellas Artes Museum, Lastarria Neighbourhood, Bellavista Neighbourhood, La Chascone (Neruda’s house), San Cristobal Hill, Parque Forestal.
After a brief stopover at a German fast food chain restaurant (called Fuente Alemana) as well as an area in Santiago’s suburbs Bettina and I headed to the Museo de la Memoria later. What a great museum about the military dictatorship during Augusto Pinochet (1973–1989). Unfortunately everything is just in Spanish. English would just be so cool as it would allow me to understand just way more and I wouldn’t have to guess the meaning of every second word.
Cerro Santa Lucia was the final destination of the day. This is another park hill in the city center from where you can enjoy wonderful panorama of the city below and the giant mountain ranges in the distance.
I have to remark that I really enjoyed the time in Santiago with so many things to do and see. The hostel was quite cool too.
The Pacific Coast at Valparaiso and sightseeing in Santiago de Chile
Day 278
We had to leave La Serena for central Chile. We wanted to catch some seaside air and enjoy one of Chile’s prime cities.
In the afternoon we had to take a Turbus to Valparaiso. It was three hours late which was very annoying. At least we got company from some stray dogs. Those dogs are a big issue around Chile (as they have been in Peru and Bolivia). There are dogs everywhere! Nobody is really interested in them or takes notice of them. So they live a life right among humans and hang out on city streets.
Anyways. The bus eventually arrived, we boarded and hit the road. A rough 8-9 hours later we arrived in Valparaiso. Exhausted and very tired we took a cab to our lodging, Casa Kultour.
Day 279
Wow, we had probably the best breakfast in a long time. This was all thanks to the German owned hostel we were staying. Felt really good.
In the early afternoon we decided to go on a guided city tour–Tour for Tips. The tour was free but they ask for tips at the end. A pretty decent business model I reckon.
Built upon dozens of steep hillsides overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Valparaíso boasts a labyrinth of streets and cobblestone alleyways, embodying a rich architectural and cultural legacy. Valparaíso is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Nicknamed “The Jewel of the Pacific”, Valparaíso was declared a world heritage site based upon its improvised urban design and unique architecture. In 1996, the World Monuments Fund declared Valparaíso’s unusual system of funicular elevators (highly-inclined cable cars) one of the world’s 100 most endangered historical treasures.
We started the tour at the Monument to the Heroes of Iquique on Plaza Sotomayor. Then wandered nearby streets and the harbour before using one of the funicular elevators to get up Cerro Alegre (this is also the hill where our hostel was located). Several funiculars – locally called ascensores – provide public transport service between the central area and the neighbourhoods atop the surrounding hills. You get some excellent views from there.
The tour was very informative and our guide gave some good advice of what restaurants and pubs we should check out.
We finished the tour a couple of hours later at Bellavista district/hill where we had some pisco sour and enjoyed a local painter’s masterpieces drawn on nearby stairs.
The rest of the day we teamed up with most of the other people from the tour: We checked out Valparaisos Irish Pub–lots of beers but no Guinness!? We continued and had fine food at a restaurant on Cerro Alegre!
Day 280
Bettina and I spend another sunny day walking around town having closer looks at the harbour side. Since I ditched my original plan and skipped the wreck diving we had more time to walk up down a few more hills (great vistas and cute cats included).
Day 281
Farewell fancy breakfast! Hello Turbus to Santiago! This was just a short trip of 1.5 hours.
I was really looking forward to being in a huge city again. Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile with a population of 5.5M. Although Santiago is the capital, the National Congress of Chile meets in the coastal town of Valparaíso. Santiago is one of Latin America’s most modern metropolitan areas, with extensive suburban development, dozens of shopping centers, and impressive high-rise architecture. It has a very modern transport infrastructure, including the steadily growing underground Santiago Metro.
It was hot. Very hot indeed. The public thermometers read 37 C. A little bit much for my taste but little did we know what was waiting in Argentina a few days later…
But first things first: We arrived at the main bus station and took the metro. What a feeling–being able to take ‘a’ metro. We went to the lovely Bellasartes district in town and checked into a nice dorm at Santiago Backpackers.
In the later afternoon hours we went on a sightseeing trip of downtown Santiago: Plaza de Armas, shopping streets, fish and fruit market and lots of other government buildings were on our route. I really like what I saw. Nice city. Nice people.
Ah yeah: You get a liter bottle of beer for very reasonable prices there. Makes a perfect excuse for early afternoon drinks (onces!)….
Day 282
Yet another very beautiful day was awaiting. We headed to the Moneda Presidential Palace and joined a Spicy Chile Tour which is yet another guided city tour based on tips. Very cool.
The tour was named: Good Morning Santiago. Carla was our guide and did a great job showing us around and giving good insights into Chiles history and political issues. She pointed out important architecture and other interesting buildings and parks.
Those 4 hours flew just by while we covered La Moneda Palace, Plaza de Armas and Metropolitan Museum, Bellas Artes Museum, Lastarria Neighbourhood, Bellavista Neighbourhood, La Chascone (Neruda’s house), San Cristobal Hill, Parque Forestal.
After a brief stopover at a German fast food chain restaurant (called Fuente Alemana) as well as an area in Santiago’s suburbs Bettina and I headed to the Museo de la Memoria later. What a great museum about the military dictatorship during Augusto Pinochet (1973–1989). Unfortunately everything is just in Spanish. English would just be so cool as it would allow me to understand just way more and I wouldn’t have to guess the meaning of every second word.
Cerro Santa Lucia was the final destination of the day. This is another park hill in the city center from where you can enjoy wonderful panorama of the city below and the giant mountain ranges in the distance.
I have to remark that I really enjoyed the time in Santiago with so many things to do and see. The hostel was quite cool too.