Valparaiso, Chile
Trip Start
Jan 09, 2011
1
16
47
Trip End
Apr 14, 2011
Valparaiso, Chile
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
We docked at about 6.30 am and went on deck to see we were surrounded by the Chilean Navy vessels as the sun was rising overhead. The trip to Santiago, capital of Chile, was to take 9 hours so a quick change of plan as dad had been unwell, we did a small trip to Val de Mar and around Valparaiso in the afternoon. We spent the morning relaxing on Aurora and watching supplies being loaded, which took most of the day to do, we had an early lunch and then went ashore. As we were moored in the busy dock area a shuttle bus took us to customs. This took about 10 minutes going through hundreds and thousands of containers.
Our trip to Val de Mar and the surrounding area took about 4 hours and the area is surrounded by 45 hills, with several funiculars dotted around Valparaiso to help the residents back to their homes. You can see from the pictures that the types of homes vary from tin shacks to wonderful brick built apartments. The picture of the horse and carriage supplies rides round the City and they descend from the English residents in the Victorian era, hence the fact they are referred to as "The Victorias".
The area is susceptible to earth quakes and only a couple of years ago an earth quake in central Chile affected quite a number of apartments in Val de Mar and lots of repair work was still going on. We went to the obligatory Museum, took a photo outside of an Easter Island Effigy – which one is Grandad? We also bought some nougat from a stall, delicious, and one of a Fire Station in Valparaiso. It was quite a good trip, and good of the Agents to change it for us, but I was disappointed we did not get to Santiago, but never mind, hey hey, we are on holiday and having a wonderful time. The buses out here have their exhausts going up and out to save the fumes being down near ones nose, not at ground level so it may be easier on ones breathing!
We returned to the ship, had jam tarts, cakes and tea. We took some back to the cabin, and at midnight I was eating one of the jam tarts! They are delicious and have about half an inch, of jam in them! To counteract the midnight feast I was up at 7.00 am and walked a mile before breakfast! Also had a healthy breakfast, as photo shows!
Valparaiso saw a change of entertainers, with Johnny Kingdom and Julian Jacobson (Pianist) leaving. Dad saw Richard Digence on board, and also another pianist is on, playing this evening, Julian Atkinson. So we are in for more full time entertaining.
We are now sailing in the Pacific, heading towards Tahiti, and will dock next at Papeete. We have booked a Mountain Safari there so will definitely not miss that. It will be 8 days before we see hand again. Hope you are all well and glad to say Dad's cold has completely gone and is fighting fit.
Love to all
Mum and Dad
Jill and Ivor
Grandma and Grandad X X X X X X X X Miss you!
Comments
Glad to hear you are fighting fit again Ivor and what can I say Jill about the midnight treats apart from enjoy them and worry about them in the morning. Loving the Blog and pictures...Take Care xxx
What beautiful scenery over the past few blogs.
Breakfast looks very healthy - what were the bacon and eggs like afterwards!!!! Only kidding.
Loads of love x x
Heyyy so glad your loving it .. Don't worry about what you eat your on holiday!! Have fun enjoy yourself , so what if you get fat!! Also extremely jeleaous of the whole being on the pacific plate border line it's the best one to be on!! And the reason why there exhausts come out the top is because then if you travel through water the dunes can still escape the engine and carry on driving!! Anyway don't do to much work now!! Think if me sat in a class room constantly doing work and papers haha
Much love Sophie xx
Thanks Soph - keep up the good work at school, and if I get fat it takes years toget it off so am walking decks constantly.
Love to All