SCENES AROUND SOUTH AMERICA - SERIES #13

"While I am writing, I am far away; and when I come back, I have already left. I should like to see if the same thing happens to other people as it does to me, to see if as many people are as I am, and if they seem the same way to themselves. When this problem has been thoroughly explored, I am going to school myself so well in things that, when I try to explain my problems, I shall speak, not of self, but of geography." - Pablo Neruda - Chilean poet, writer, diplomat, political activist and exile, Nobel Prize winner for Literature (1971), "people's poet," senator, and one of the greatest South American poets.

FEB. 24,2013 - VALPARAISO, CHILE

Above is a nice poem from Pablo Neruda. I am just guessing that when he said "geography" at the end of the poem, he meant something about "travel.' With a man of his status, he must be a well traveled guy. He owned many houses, and one of them is La Sebastiana here in Valparaiso. The five-story house has outstanding views that helped to inspire the work of Pablo Neruda.  The house is open to the public, but didn't get to visit it. We opted for a full-day trip to Santiago. 

 

PUERTO VALPARAISO - VALPARAISO IS CHILE'S OLDEST AND SECOND LARGEST CITY. ITS THE MOST IMPORTANT PORT ON THE WEST COAST. THE GRAND PRINCESS DOCKED HERE FOR A DAY.  WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY!

VIEW OF VALPARAISO, CHILE - FROM OUR OCEAN VIEW STATEROOM.

  VIEW OF THE SCENIC COASTAL CITY OF VALPARAISO FROM CRUISE SHIP

       VIEW OF THE BAY, THE HARBOR AND THE HILLS OF VALPARAISO  

FIRST CLOSE-UP VIEW OF VALPARAISO, A CLUSTER OF WATERFRONT TOWERS

PANORAMIC VIEW OF VALPARAISO - NICKNAMED "THE JEWEL OF THE PACIFIC."

COLORFUL FLAG OF CHILE

VALPARAISO 1883, AS SEEN FROM THE MUSEO HISTORICO NACIONAL IN SANTIAGO, CHILE.

  

TUMBLING DOWN DOZENS OF HILLSIDE HOMES TO THE PORT, VALPARAISO IS A MAZE OF COLORFUL BUILDINGS, VICTORIAN HOUSES, BOULEVARDS AND VIEW POINTS. VALPARAISO WAS DECLARED A UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE IN 2003, BASED UPON ITS IMPROVISED URBAN DESIGN AND UNIQUE ARCHITECTURE.

 

IMPORTANT LANDMARK -  THE FOCUS OF PLAZA SOTOMAYOR IS THE "MONUMENT TO THE HEROES OF IQUIQUE" THAT HONORS THE CHILEAN  NAVY MARTYRS,  WHO FELL DURING THE BATTLE OF IQUIQUE. A SUBTERRANEAN MAUSOLEUM PAYING 

 

THE PLAZA SOTAMAYOR IS THE NAVAL HEART OF THE CITY, DOMINATED BY THE IMPRESSIVE BLUE-COLORED PALATIAL BUILDING. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SQUARE LIES THE MONUMENT A LOS HEROES DE IQUIQUE, A SUBTERRANEAN MAUSOLEUM. THE PLAZA AND SURROUNDING BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNSTED HISTORIC DISTRIC ON JANUARY 23, 1979.

 

"ADIOS VALPARAISO!" NICE TO VISIT YOU!