Well Today is day 2 in Valparaiso or our 2nd last day for phase 2. Our accommodation were adequate, quiet, clean, and comfortable albeit a bit small. Checkout is at noon so we decide to divide the day into two, one without packs and one with. For the without we head out to check out the local cemeteries that have been written up in our guide book. They consist of two Roman Catholic cemetery and a dissident cemetery (one for the non-believers i.e. protestant). It is sad to see headstones of so many children and young adults. It is also obvious that there was a large english contingence in Valparaiso . Life must have been much harder 100 and 200 years ago. There are huge marble stones and a number of crypts with a number of people being cremated as there are numerous persons in a small area and honoured on a head stone. After cruising 2 cemeteries we have had enough and head back to check out. Along the way there is more awe and disgust at this city of contrast. We stop for a coffee around the corner from us which has a lovely terrace, but bad expensive coffee, this is portably the worst and most expensive coffee of the whole trip. It was $4,800 Chilean pesos, over $10 CDN, but we both agree that as this was the worst thing that happened during 4 weeks of travel in SA we are doing all right.
Once we check out there are two items left to do on our "to do list for Valparaiso" to see Pablo Neuredas house and to see the beach. Pablo Neuredas is a nobel prize winning poet and communist activist who died in 1972. He designed the pigeon which is used as the symbol for peace as well as winning a Nobel Peace prize for literature. His house and and the accompanying voice tour (offered in Spanish and English) of the home and his life history was well worth the hike up about 500 to 700 meters to his home now call the "sebastian museum". The views from the home are impressive and the man was an eclectic collector, having a number of interesting pieces through out the home. These ranged from a carousel horse, to a cow punch bowl. Both of us now have inspirations of following in his foot steps. The walk back down to sea level was much easier.
We are now in search of lunch, which we found in an excellent "locals" restaurant, and then to the bus station for our evening departure back to Santiago. Before we get our tickets we decide to we still have a bit of time and head out to the waterfront to try to find the beach. The trek to the beach is not far and we soon find the "beach". We locate the sea lions, lots of garbage, a bit of sand and a very interesting sculpture behind bars. There is a submarine in the harbour which is cool. Enough Valparaiso, time to get on that bus, we still have a subway ride and a 3 kms walk once we get off the subway.
We make it back with no remarkable events, in total we must have walked another 15 kms today. Back at Rick's we are by ourselves as he has flown to Canada today, we have a light bite and off to bed.
Photo Notes:
1) Cerros of Valparaiso
2) One of the Cemeteries of Valparaiso
3) Some interesting artwork on a set of stairs
4) Julie taking in view while waiting for coffee
5) Nice photo of a window plant
6) More "graffiti" Valparaiso
7) View to south west of cemetery
8) Street scene in Valparaiso - note dog having a good stretch
9) Man contemplating life or just having a rest you decide
10) Another derelict building - I get kind of drawn to take pictures of them
11) Sea Lion
12) Sea Lions - We like the face on buddy 2nd from the right
13) Dawson on the beach - thanks for lending me your pack Kevin
14) Sub off of Valparaiso
15) "Sculpture" behind bars - one has to wonder what these cars did to deserve this treatment
16) Julie at the Santiago Metro
Cheers
Julie and Dawson
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