November 11, 2024 - Valparaiso-Santiago, Chile

November 11, 2024 – Monday                Day 47 of this journey 

Valparaiso - Santiago, Chile 

We arrived in Valparaiso, Chile, just as it was getting light. Valparaiso is the port for Santiago, the capital city of Chile. Santiago is located in a valley between the coastal range and the Andes Mountains.

Valparaiso is a colorful town with houses marching up the steep hills. Mixed into this are numerous highrises. 

This is also a big change over day. It is the end of the segment that started in Fort Lauderdale and most of the passengers will be departing. We are also losing around 55 of our staff members including quite a few of the Expedition Team. We even have a new Captain. 

The included tour today for the World Cruisers is an all day trip to Santiago and back. It is the consensus of most that Viking simply wants us out of the way to deal with the new employees and new passengers. From now until the end of our journey, the ship will be completely full. 

Valparaiso is also an industrial/commercial port. Everyone coming and going must utilize a shuttle bus between the ship and the entrance to the port. There are two busses of World Cruisers heading to Santiago. It doesn’t take long to move through the city and onto the highway heading over the Coastal Range. It is a pleasant ride with lots of trees and a fair amount of agriculture. 

Santiago has a population of 7 million and originated in the 1500s. Much of the city looks European, particularly the historic core. There is a river running through it that has been contained by rock and cement walls/sides. The water carries a lot of sediment as it’s source is the glaciers of the Andes. 

We make a stop at the main square to view a cathedral, the old post office (which is still functioning), then walk to a museum of Pre-Columbian art and artifacts. The museum is typically closed on Mondays, but they have opened it for us as well as another private event with students from the university. We spend about 45 minutes enjoying the exhibits before reconvening to walk to the Presidential Palace, then meet our bus and head for lunch.

These palm trees are about 130 years old.

Cathedral

Post Office

Jacaranda Tree. It is spring here.

Beautiful interior of this cathedral.

Altar

Side Chapel

Pre-Columbian art. All in glass enclosures with lots of
reflections.

Loved the schnoz on this one

The textile exhibit was AMAZING!

Quite sophisticated designs.

Stock Exchange (now vacant as it is all digital)

Across from the Presidential Palace, we noticed these
window washers.

The river. Odd color is through the bus window.

The Andes just east of town

Lunch is excellent. We were served Pisco Sours as we entered, then took our place at long tables. Wine was poured and lunch was served. Excellent tomato soup, A sizeable fish filet over excellent mashed potatoes and a few veggies. Then a glass of custard topped with fresh fruit. 

That was enough food, we won’t be needing dinner. Pisco is a clear alcoholic beverage common on the west coast of South America. It is made from grapes. The liquor is often mixed with fruit juice or coca cola. The one we were given today reminded me of a Margarita. It was very refreshing. 

The tour continues with a stop at a handicraft market. Thankfully, we only have about an ½ hour to explore. There were a few purchases, but most of us got back on the bus empty handed. Another hour or so on the road returning to Valparaiso and we were welcomed back to the ship. 

A very pleasant day.