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Pacific coast at
Zapallar. A typical panorama along this portion of the coast in
between the several beach resorts and small fishing towns. |
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Valparaíso,
two views. Founded in 1536, this is the second largest city in
Chile, the chief port, and home of an important naval base. The city
spreads along the coast into the adjacent range of hills behind. It
has many charming street scenes offering fine views out to the sea,
although there are few really old buildings left after the many disasters
to have struck the city - most recently major earthquakes in 1971 and
1985. |
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Valparaíso,
Plaza de Armas. This central square is surrounded by small shops,
including one particularly fine restaurant, Los Porteños, a small dingy
affair with the best seafood you'll ever taste. |
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Valparaíso,
street scene. I could never understand the surprise most Chileans
expressed when I tell them Valaparaíso is my favorite city in the
country. Perhaps they had never chanced upon scenes such as
this. I think it more they hold it in ill regard because of its
working class atmosphere. |
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Valparaíso,
flea market. A good place to find that book you've spent years
searching for - but you'd better read Spanish! |
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Valparaíso,
view of the port area. This scene is on many postcards of the city. |
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Valparaíso, the
"English Church". So called because it was the principal
church used by the British during their commercial dominance of the city
in the early 19C. |
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Valparaíso,
houses. A sort of antipodean version of San Francisco, California,
one local I met whose brother had emigrated there some years ago insisted
it "was identical to here in every respect". One hopes
this equality does not apply to the frequency of earthquakes. |
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Viña
del Mar, two views. This city, adjacent to Valparaíso, could not be
more different in character, being home to many of Chile's wealthiest
citizens and the summer of its President. There is a casino in the
center, and some fine beaches nearby. |
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Cartagena,
two views. This small beach town is typical of many along this
portion of the coast, with many fine old summer homes (many in need of
urgent repair) and excellent seafood restaurants. |
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Vineyard, on the
highway between Santiago and Valparaíso. A common sight in this
part of Chile. |
