Valparaiso (for Santiago), Chile

VALPARAISO Stopover and Visit to SANTIAGO DE CHILE

On the HIGHLIGHTS OF SANTIAGO Tour

Saturday 31st March 2012

This was the end of the first part of this Holland America Line "COLLECTORS' VOYAGE" Cruise on the MS VEENDAM on its journey from BUENOS AIRES, Argentina to NEW YORK CITY, United States of America.

A good number of the current guests onboard would be leaving the ship in VALPARAISO and likewise a good number of new guests would be joining the ship in VALPARAISO.

The 06h55 start for the HIGHLIGHTS OF SANTIAGO Tour from VALPARAISO (pronounced VAL-PARA-ISO) seemed a little early today, especially after all the other tours on previous days in the other ports had started later.

But there was good reason, as there was just a limited amount of time to drive back and forth to/from SANTIAGO (which was 2 hours away) as well as see something of this sprawling capital city.

The weather though in VALPARAISO was totally overcast and it was drizzling with rain as it started to get light. But this would change as the drive continued on to the Santiago Valley and the City of SANTIAGO itself.

After travelling through the first tunnel, passing under the coastal mountain range, we entered the huge and fertile Central Chilean Valley under partially clearing skies.

This is the largest wine growing region in Chile, being home to field after field of both white and red grape vines in privately owned vineyard after vineyard

After passing through a second tunnel, we then entered the Santiago Valley to clear blue skies and sunshine, although it was very hazy and unfortunately  the usually stunning backdrop that SANTIAGO has of the Andes Mountains was not fully visible.

We started the first part of the tour in the old and historical central and western areas of SANTIAGO, where we were though lucky enough to arrive at the “Palacio de la Moneda” the current Presidential Palace to the Changing of the Guard, which takes place on “Plaza de la Constitucion” every fourth day.

As well as the different regiments of soldiers, making the change of the guard, there were also guards on horseback (and horses with shoes over their shoes) and a full brass band playing for the occasion.

This area of SANTIAGO is the main administration district of the country and the location of many of the important Ministeries within the Government of Chile.

From here we visited “Plaza de Armas”, which is the most important historical sight in SANTIAGO being the location of the “Casa Colarado”, the home of the Governor in colonial days and of Mateo de Toro, the first President of Chile, which is now the Central Post Office.

It is also the location of “The Cathedral” and “Archbishop of Santiago's Palace” as well as the “Palacio de la Real Audiencia”, which is now the National Historical Museum.

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We then crossed over the Mapocho River and entered the very much newer and modern eastern areas of SANTIAGO.

And, despite the constant threat of earthquakes (as Chile sits right on two constantly moving continental plates) numerous large high rise buildings were located in this area called “Providencia”, many housing the head offices of some of the largest business companies (including many banks and financial institutions) located in Chile.

In the suburbs surrounding this area were many luxurious homes and a large number of prestigious and designer shops, to go along with them. This was a  sharp contrast from the many distinctly poorer areas in the western part of SANTIAGO.

We lunched somewhat quickly and later than planned, at a restaurant in the “Parque Metropolitano” on the conical hill of “San Cristobal”.

It was then time for us to leave SANTIAGO to re-join the MS VEENDAM in VALPARAISO in good time, therefore, it was not possible (as was planned) for us to see very much of the original architecture in the picturesque and colourful hillside neighbourhoods of VALPARAISO itself.

Thankfully though, from our stateroom on the starboard side of the ship and up on deck, we had some stunning views of one of these neighbourhoods of VALPARAISO and even more so when the ship left port.

This would be the start of the second part of this Holland America Line "COLLECTORS' VOYAGE" Cruise on the MS VEENDAM as it continues on its journey now from VALPARAISO (for SANTIAGO), Argentina to NEW YORK CITY, United States of America.