Leaving The Atacama and on to Valparaiso

Hola, we are on the move again, up early and waiting for the airport bus which was supposed to turn up at 7am, and didn't until 8.05.  Rod was climbing the walls by then.  But got there in plenty of time.  Again a good and comfortable flight with LAN, quite impressed with them.

Fermin our taxi driver was waiting for us At Santiago and in 10 minutes we were on our way out of the city towards Valparaiso.  When we stopped at the toll gate, he bought us Chile's Valletta's (biscuits filled with manjar or dulce leche).

We had arranged with Fermin to have a stop at a vineyard on the way.  And we stopped at the Emiliana Vineyard. It was so beautiful that we stayed a while, had a wine flight tasting and cheese, found out where we can buy the stuff in the UK. When we said that we really like Gewurztrameiner, his eyes lit up, and out came their own blend.

We the seemed to get a double tasting, including their most expensive one. Anyway we bought four bottles, two for in Valparaiso, and two for the ship.  And we intend to buy a case when we get home.

First thoughts on Valparaiso-.  There is some brutally ugly concrete buildings in the port which are contrasted by brightly painted houses skimming the hillsides.  The city is beautiful, ugly, poor, fascinating and pretty., and has life and vibrancy.   It is obviously much poorer than Santiago, which can we seen in the city and the people. They are not necessarily less friendly, and there is a little wariness about them.  But still friendly.

Valparaiso is set around a large harbour, and spread out over steep hillsides. Each one is a Barrio or district, with its own character.  At lease two of them are UNESCO! conception which we are staying on, and Alegre or Mount Pleasant in English.   As you move further back from the water the district becomes smarter (or so it seems) and everything, we've decided is up hill there are no down hills.

Our hotel is called Manoir Atkinson is is owned by a lovely French Canadian lady called Judith and her husband.  When they bought it a couple of years ago, they said it was virtually derelict, and had to start from scratch.  It is lovely and has been restored back to it's original condition.

We found a lovely small restaurant for dinner, had a great cold beer and Eaton the roof terrace watching the city life.