Valparaiso, Chile - Day Tour

 

 

Valparaiso is an interesting little hillside city. About an hour and a half (depending on Santiago traffic) northwest of Santiago - Valparaiso is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a cruise ship port.

Founded in 1543 Valparaiso was at one time the Pacific’s greatest port. Unfortunately as one gentleman told me, “She has gone from a Grand Dame to a faded silent film star.”

 

What an interesting analogy! For some reason what this man told me put thoughts of Acapulco from the 1960s in my head. Images of high-rise hotels, fashionable people lounging on the beach as waiters in khakis and white shoes served fruity and tropical drinks from little trays.

 

Well, Valparaiso certainly is not Acapulco from the 1960s. It is the opposite of that ideal. So upon first sight I was confused, and if I had been on my own I would have been reluctant to spend much time there.

 

Luckily we had enlisted the guidance of Vivian from ABC Tour. His passion and understanding of this faded Grand Dame certainly turned what could have been a disappointing day into one of the best days of our trip. He showed us the past and the present of this once mighty shipping port and even speculated on its future. Right from the beginning it was apparent that this transplanted Frenchman has found his soul mate in Chile and especially Valparaiso. If you plan on visiting Valparaiso be sure to contact Vivian if you want the inside tour and not the tourist route.

 

 http://abctour.jimdo.com/ 

 

We began the tour at the top of the hillside city and worked our way down. At the top you take in the locals and you get to see how they live. The top is the heart of Valparaiso. It’s where you live and take care of your family. Down the hill into the port is where you work - it seems the locals prefer to be up on the hill.

 



THE HILLSIDE CITY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of the many homeless dogs that are adopted by the locals. He seems happy!

 

 

 

 

GRAND HOUSES FROM VALPARAISO'S PAST

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 



 

THE PORT CITY:

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you are a port city then you need a Naval Museum!

 

 

 

ON THE PACIFIC'S EDGE:

 

 

I am absolutely thrilled to say that I have seen the Pacific Ocean from two different continents! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE LOCAL CEMETERY: 

 

This was by far the most unexpected part of the tour. Usually when somebody suggests we go visit the cemetery, 'I say thanks but no thanks.' However this time I really am glad somebody took me to the local cemetery.What an absolute display of joy and color-complete with the flags of the local football team!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 THE STREET ART:

 

 For me  - my absolute favorite part of Valparaiso was the amazing street art!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Le Reve Hotel - Santiago, Chile

 

The boutique hotel, Le Reve, was the first stop during a nearly two-week stay in Santiago, Chile. Located in the neighborhood of Providencia this charming and wonderfully placed hotel provided exceptional service and made Santiago feel like a little piece of Europe.

 

The original plan was to have Le Reve provide transportation from the airport. However due to a lack of communication on both ends - the driver did not show and a taxi had to be taken from the airport to the hotel for about 18,000 Chilean Pesos.

After being hounded by numerous taxi drivers there was one particularly insistent taxi driver who got the job. He somehow got everything situated in his very small cab that look like it belonged to Mr. Bean.

The ride into Santiago was pleasant and quick. Traffic was not a problem and Gabriel from the front desk of the Le Reve was all smiles. He quickly apologized for not providing transportation and explained that the hotel was having email problems and received a bounce back of the email sent with flight information.

Gabriel let it be known that there was a suite available for an upgrade.  However the new room location was on the backside of the hotel.  The Trip Advisor reviews of the Le Reve stated that a nightclub on the back side of the hotel was a particular problem.  Gabriel gave many assurances that the nightclub noise had been resolved.

There was absolutely no language barrier with the check-in process.  The entire staff was very professional - even the maids wore the black dresses with the white aprons. O la la!

Once inside the room a plastic card is inserted into a device on the wall to turn on the electricity.

First stop -  a lovely sitting area which has a couch, a writing desk, a flat screen TV, and a view of the street Orrego Luco.

 

 

The bathroom was large and spacious as well as the bedroom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 The first two nights there was not a noise to be heard. On the third night there was a very faint thumping - probably the dreaded night club, but it wasn't enough to cause a lack of sleep.

 

The view from the bedroom was of a lovely courtyard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Downstairs past the lobby there is a large and very tastefully decorated living area where breakfast is served each morning.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also in the evenings there are snacks and an honor bar.

 
The Le Reve is truly a gem of a boutique hotel. The location is on a side street just off the main shopping street. The side streets in either direction of the hotel are full of small hotels and really good restaurants.

 

 

 

http://www.lerevehotel.cl/