What a great feeling to be like at home while travelling and have the opportunity to see some familiar faces! It has been really wonderful to meet up with Esmeralda at her mother´s place in Santiago. We have been able to share our first impressions about Chile and get useful tips on where to go next with them and their family and visiting friends.
Elena´s house in Santiago is very welcoming and the garden is a heaven of peacefulness. Planted by Esmeralda´s parents 60 years ago, it is now rich in colours and displays majestic trees. We loved walking around the garden with Elena and her (incorrigible) dogs and collect ripe apricots from the tree. From there, we have been able to explore the city, climb up Cerro Santa Lucia for a great view of the city center, visit the famous Museo del Arte Precolombiano and check out the Plaza de Armas and the presidential Palacio de la Moneta.
From Santiago, we also visited Valparaiso, a coastal city located some 2h away from the capital. The historical center of the town is quite special because it is up on the hill and one can access it through old elevators. The houses in Valparaiso are covered with colourful corrugated iron sheets which gives a very lively look to the city. Valparaiso is considered the cultural center of the country and there are many art galleries, but we very much appreciated the modern wall paintings that decorate the streets. More thumbnails ...
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