December 17-24, 2021—Our stops on the coast of Chile, Part 2--San Antonio/Valpariso/Vina Del Mar

San Antonio (port for Santiago) was the next stop (December 19-20)—and the end of one cruise and start of another. We disembarked some crew and passengers, took on others, and provisioned the ship (see earlier post). We were in a very industrial port—no walking off the ship and two transfers to get to excursions plus two checkpoints. Nearby is the city of Valpariso, which was an upgrade from San Antonio, although with a crowded, rather unremarkable downtown filled with graffiti. We then drove through Vina del Mar, a much more elegant community of apartments, homes, and shops. Following that overview, we headed up into the hills to Vinamar winery. 

 

Treacherous perches on the hills overlook San Antonio, Chile. Other hillsides were covered with the shacks of squatters, although not to the extend of the favelas in Brazil.

Valpariso's streets were busy with shoppers at all kinds of stalls that lined the main street. The city, however, was awash in graffiti and trash--on lovely old buildings as well as newer ones, although the waterfront was attractive.

 

 

 

The seaside town of Vina Del Mar was a much more upscale community--still some graffiti, but not nearly as much, and loads of luxury apartments. One of Vina Del Mar's distinctive features is this flower clock, 

https://second.wiki/wiki/reloj_de_flores_ vic3b1a_del_mar

 

 

 

 

 View from Vinamar Winery

The Casablanca region, where the Vinamar winery https://vinamar.cl is located, is known for its white wines, of which we sampled three, followed by a delicious buffet lunch of meats, cheeses, salads, and, of course, desserts.