Wednesday 27th
February 2013.
Following a day’s
sailing in calm seas from Puerto Montt we reached the sea port and city of
Valparaiso, gateway to the Chilean capital of Santiago. The city was carpeted
in mist and fog on arrival. It was a cold day of about 15 degrees. The fog
lasted for most of the day but lifted late in the afternoon before sailaway.
Valparaiso is the
second largest city in Chile, of about 400,000 people, and is built along
harbour side foreshores and surrounding hills. The capital of Santiago is about
70 miles inland from Valparaiso.
Again we were unable to
score a land excursion as all tours were booked out, and we had to be content
with a visit to the city centre, which was within walking distance from the
ship. Valparaiso is apparently known as the “Poor Working Man’s City”, and it
clearly shows. It is pretty dirty and grimy, with old and dilapidated buildings
throughout the city. Pockets of open air and second hand markets in the city,
were also, not a good look. Many stray and mangy dogs were everywhere. However
the city appeared safe, and easy to get around.
As in most South
American cities, pockets of poor shanty town areas dotted the landscape and to
gain access to the hillside areas several inclinators had been built around the
city.
Whilst we were
restricted to a brief look at the city on foot, impressions were not good for a
revisit to the area.
Tomorrow we overnight
to Coquimbo, the final sea port in Chile.
