Ciao Santiago...Hola Valparaiso

Our last day in Santiago was spent in the downtown area where we visited Iglesia San Francisco & the surrounding area, walked through the Biblioteca National (main library) enjoying a display of the history of making maps of the western hemisphere, hiked the Santa Lucia Hill and got lost in a huge city crowd in the ped-only zones near the downtown center. There we sat down to laugh out loud at a mime artist, who imitated people walking by expertly! We also visited the main train station which was absorbed by a huge mall~ shop until you drop! YUCK!
We shared a pasta & salad dinner with our hostal neighbor, Velin. Hope to cross paths with him in his bright future!



One of the pleasures we seek out in Latin America is the simple daily menu lunch, where for 1650 chilean pesos (just over $3.00) you have a 3 course meal~ soup or salad to start, a main course consisting usually of meat and a starch, and then dessert. Our last lunch in Santiago was great Lasagne with flan for the sweet finale. Yum! Usually your drink cost as much or more than the meal, and I'm talking Canada Dry! We've been making breakfast at the hostal, having a lunch out, and if need be, making a little something for a light supper back at the hostal. That's how we plan to travel on this long adventure; we'll probably save money this winter! :)

For less than $3.00 US you can take a very nice bus to the coastal city of Valparaiso, 140 KM west of Santiago. The trip was a simple two hour and we sat in the front seats for a scenic tour. From the bus station we took a trolley car into the center of town. Near the bus station it looked a bit 'scary', just down and out. But as we got closer to center the buildings, though run down for the most part, have fancy facades, not quite colonial, but once elegant.
It was a bit difficult to find our way to the hostal but we saw a lot of action on the way. This city seems more 'real' than Santiago. People are hustling to buy their necessities and we arrived into town as school students were heading home.
The rooms at the Casa Verde Limon are simple though we have our own TV with cable. This may hinder our reading as Keith is watching his 3rd episode of Simpsons while I write, in Spanish so we can count it as educational.



The shared areas in this hostel are very nice, the kitchen is modern and well stocked, the dining area is large with great windows and there are sofas & computers for all to share. It doesn't seem very full since it's the middle of the week.



Our first 'service project' presented itself just outside the doors of the hostel. Across the street is a small plaza that a small group of volunteers have spent the last three months tiling a'la Gaudi. They have designed walls, steps and benches around a corazon "heart' theme. Any one who wishes can design a heart and work to place it in the nearly completed park. It's beautiful and certainly a labor of love! The grand opening is scheduled for November 6th so they are drawing close to their last days. Keith spent a little time helping by sweeping up this afternoon; he can hardly wait to get out there again tomorrow!





We walked down to the waterfront and picked up some groceries earlier. We met a young couple from Brazil who assured us we will get by just fine traveling in their country without Portuguese, big relief!! Here are a couple pictures from our first venture out to see this town. You can tell from our clothing that it was a bit chilly today. Here's hoping tomorrow is sunnier & warm!!