Vina del Mar and Valparaíso, Chile

   January 3. We traveled northwest to the Pacific coast to see the resort town of Vina del Mar. A combination of beaches and rocky coast, this area has many high rise condos occupied during the summer season. The larger town south of Vina del Mar is Valparaíso, capitol of the region and a major Chilean port. Discovered in 1544, Valparaiso is built on 44 hills with no parks but 33 squares. We would call much of the city “funky” or like Haight Asbury in the 60’s. Our lunch was eaten at a very nice restaurant on Concepcion Hill. Dave enjoyed a Pisco Sour. Pisco is a strong liquor made from fermented grapes. It tasted a little like a saltless Margarita. We walked among some of the colorful narrow streets. Valparaíso is a city of 500,000 people and 400,000 dogs—you have to be careful where you step 😊. While traveling today we saw lots of evidence of the forest fires that occurred on Christmas day. We have enjoyed our time in Chile and fly early tomorrow to Ushuaia, Argentina to meet our ship for the expedition to Antarctica. 🐧