Our ship docked in the middle of the industrial port of San Antonio. It was a busy place with cranes and containers being loaded and lots of cargo ships. We were not allowed to walk on the pier and had to be transported to the passenger terminal (such as it was) by shuttle. It just made things a bit more complicated.

Since we had a packed agenda, I booked a private guide through Tours by Locals. It was a very pleasant and interesting day under the capable guidance of Christopher (Chris) W. He was enthusiastic, entertaining, knowledgeable, and very interesting. Needless to say, there were no quiet pauses in our day together.

Some Competition for Miami’s Wynwood Walls?

We started in Valparaiso, early to beat the expected crowds on this Sunday, the last day of the Chilean summer break before school resumes. We took one of the few working funiculars up to get a good view of the city and Pacific coastline below. Just in time; not long after, a marine layer of fog rolled in.

Chris explained local and Chilean history and enlightened us about the local art scene.  Knowing the context was key as he showed us the many colorful murals in the area. Look closely, and you may see some familiar figures. I’ll let the pics tell the story. And when I say we got our steps in today, I am not kidding!

I was very happy to be with someone who knows the ins and outs of the various neighborhoods because there is a lot of street crime here, and you really have to keep your wits about you. He also knows where all the decent bathrooms are.

Sacred Moai on Watch

A quick drive through the nearby seaside resort town of Viña del Mar provided a good frame of reference.  This is where many Chileans vacation and have second homes. It was definitely more upscale with loads of nice-looking restaurants and shops. We didn’t feel like we needed to spend any extra time here, but it was a treat to see the one mainland-based Moai statue from Rapa Nui (aka Easter Island). BTW, Rapa Nui is now the official name of this Chilean island, and there is one other statue off-island, appropriated by the British long ago. They are fighting for its return.

Casablanca Wine Valley

It was a delight to head east into the lovely Casablanca wine country, which looks so much like Southern California. Chris does a lot of wine trips, and he took us to a wonderful boutique winery off the beaten path – Villard.  After chatting with the winery manager, we selected three of their wines to try – their signature Tanagra (a Syrah), a Pinot Noir, and a Sauvignon Blanc.  We liked all three. We paired the wines with a selection of food from their nice menu and dined outside, under a pergola, with a soft breeze. A delightful conclusion to a terrific day!