Our first port of call in Chile was Antofagasta a large City of almost a million people, but primarily a mining town. It certainly is not geared for tourism as the bus on our City tour today turned up three quarters of an hour late because it had to take miners to work first. The guide was a disaster,she did not seem to know a lot and was difficult to understand. Consequently it was a write off, because it really is a very attractive town with a nice waterfront, beach and a pretty town square.
Our tour took us to a railway museum of aged gear, different items used for mining, quite good. Next we went to some ruins called Ruinus de Huanchaca. It was a museum, but unusual in it’s ruins were of several old brick kilns where they refined silver into ingots. It was built in 1888 and finished by 1902.
Our tour took us to a railway museum of aged gear, different items used for mining, quite good. Next we went to some ruins called Ruinus de Huanchaca. It was a museum, but unusual in it’s ruins were of several old brick kilns where they refined silver into ingots. It was built in 1888 and finished by 1902.
We saw something very unusual though when we were heading back to the ship; A funeral with the coffin sitting on the back of a fire engine and a fire ute filled with wreaths!
Can you spot the coffin on the back of the fire engine?
Today is a sea day on our way to Valparaiso a very large City and Port. We are taking an excursion driving to Santiago which will take us 8 hours. We are looking forward to it as we had seen some photos Jeremy and Rachel took when they travelled here several years ago. Tonight is party night again, they are putting on a show for Australia Day. There are about 24 Aussies on board, most enjoy a drink or ten so should be good. We have a bit of a swell today, but it isn’t affecting us, this ship handles weather very well.
Valparaiso to Santiago
We docked at Valparaiso a very large port of about 800000 people and set off on an excursion to Santiago the Capital of Chile.
The population is over 7 mill. it’s a big City, very beautiful with lots of parks and gardens, some very nice buildings both modern and Historical. We didn’t tour anything of great significance, the time allowed prevented this. On the way and back of course we went through many tunnels under the Andes Mountain range, one was over 6 miles long. Today we are at sea on our way South to Puerto Montt.
The population is over 7 mill. it’s a big City, very beautiful with lots of parks and gardens, some very nice buildings both modern and Historical. We didn’t tour anything of great significance, the time allowed prevented this. On the way and back of course we went through many tunnels under the Andes Mountain range, one was over 6 miles long. Today we are at sea on our way South to Puerto Montt.
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