Well, not really Santiago, but rather the port city of San Antonio, the one without the Alamo. We didn't drive into Santiago, about 60 miles away. Instead we went to Valparaiso, slightly closer.
To go along with the political unrest in Chile, there's graffiti to make the point. (By the way, this bus had VERY tinted windows that made photography difficult. The pictures are dark, shifted in color, and some taken through the window have rainbow diffraction patterns on them. A triple threat bus.)
Chile is located along the Pacific Rim of Fire, and here you can see the effects of a recent earthquake. Chile has the largest recorded earthquake, believed to be 9.4-9.6 on the Richter scale. Quakes above 8 are common. We could also see tsunami warnings posted near the beaches, indicating the direction and distance to go when the alarms sounded. So to go with political instability you have geologic instability also.
But life goes on for this street vendor.
A gift from the British
In Valparaiso we made a single stop at Sotomayor Square to take pictures. "Take nothing off the bus except your camera. Guard it closely. Be aware of your surroundings..." Early on a Monday morning it didn't seem like a war zone, but apparently the anarchists are in full bloom and you need to watch your step.
Back to the safety of the bus, our panoramic tour continued. Funiculars are necessary in parts of Valpo.
A colorful street vendor.
We went back inland for the highlight of the tour, lunch and the winery tour. We visited Matetic Vineyards, which has the whole package going -- restaurant, hostel, winery, tours and special events. The lunch area had been crafted into picture postcard settings suitable for your next occasion or wedding.
After lunch we moved on to another venue, the winery about five miles away. Here's an interesting use for the corks from bottles and the old barrels. Make a table.
Interesting footwear
Every winery tour is the same (if someone finds a different way to make wine, that's the tour I want to go on). The only "excitement" of this tour was the use of concrete tanks to ferment and age the Sauvigon Blanc. I think. I wasn't paying that much attention. But the tour is the price you have to pay for the wine tasting.
Judging from the clanking bottles on the bus back to the ship, Matetic did well by the Oceania visit.
To go along with the political unrest in Chile, there's graffiti to make the point. (By the way, this bus had VERY tinted windows that made photography difficult. The pictures are dark, shifted in color, and some taken through the window have rainbow diffraction patterns on them. A triple threat bus.)
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