We arrived Valparaiso, Chile and disembarked our ship on January 31st. We pre-arranged an all day tour with a transfer to Santiago with "Michael, the German Pirate," (just a tour we found on-line). It turned out that 4 other couples from our ship booked the same tour. Valparaiso is a coastal city known for its steep funiculars and colorful clifftop homes. Michael took us around Valparaiso to one of the better neighborhoods where we walked around and then took a funiculars down to the city square.
At the top of the hill to ride the funicular down.
Below are just a few of the many buildings with eleborate street art.
A row of colorful clifftop houses
Our tour guide (Michael) told us he calls this the "Ship House".
Navy building in Sotomayor Square
Michael the German Pirate showing us old pictures of the city square.
After our tour in Valparaiso, we were driven to the nearby coastal resort city of Vina del Mar known for its gardens and beaches. Above is a working swiss clock garden made after Switzerland played Chile in the World Cup in 1962.
A large Moai statue moved to Vina del Mar in 1950 from Easter Island.
We then drove to the beach area to enjoy lunch at one of Michael's favorite spots.
On our way to Santiago, we stopped at a winery in Casablanca Valley and got to taste some nice Chilean wine.
Front garden and fountains at the winery
Wine tasting
The following day we were on our own in Santiago. Michael gave us some tips on riding the subway and a gave us information on a few things to see in the city. Above is the "La Moneda Palace" which is the presidential palace.
Side garden of La Moneda Palace
Santiago Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas
Plaza de Armas
National History Museum in Plaza de Armas
Castillo Hidalgo - We just happened to run onto this park with a castle ruins on top of the hill.
Wonderful view of the city from on top of the castle tower
Chapel on the castle grounds
Neptune Fountain on the castle grounds
Walking down the pedestrian area in the city we came across these tango dancers
Monument to the Pueblo Indians; the indigenous people of Chile
The Justice Department in Santiago
Set up on a hill where we took a funicular to the top is the "Santuario Inmaculada Concepcion"
The Garden of Saint Christopher
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