Valparaiso, Concon y Viña del Mar, Chile - 30 November - 01 December 2008

Above left: The wine valley in central Chile (en-route from Santiago to Valparaiso);
Above right: Rough-edgy Valparaiso

Valparaiso (or affectionately known as 'Valpo'), a short 2-hour bus ride from Santiago, is bohemian to the core and culturally inspiring (a la the city's own Nobel laureate for literature, poet Pablo Neruda). This UNESCO World Heritage port city of central Chile has 45 residential hills that face the Pacific Ocean and are linked together by irregular streets, winding stairways, steep footpaths and 15 funicular elevators. Word is the New Year's fireworks display here in Valparaiso is spectacular but alas, I will just have to take their word for it.

Above left: The Old Regional Government near Plaza Sotomayor;

Above right: Plaza Sotomayor monument

Above: The port at Valparaiso

Above: This singer at a restaurant has a powerful voice - I loved her singing!

Above left: Empanada Marisco - seafood turnover; Above right: Paila Marina - fish and shellfish chowder

Above: Palacio Baburizza

A 30-minutes drive north on the curvy coastal road from Valparaiso will lead one to the high-heeled, clean and garden city of Viña del Mar (or 'Viña) - a distinct contrast from the bohemian and rough-edgy Valpo; another 10-15 minutes drive north from Viña is Concon, where you will find the sand dunes and along with them, a quiet and solitude place to look out to the Pacific Ocean.

Above: @ the sand dunes of Concon

Above left: Ajiaco - lamb and potatoes soup; Above right: Viña del Mar


Above: Viña del Mar