Valparaiso

Earlier this month we spent an afternoon in Valparaiso, which is about 10 minutes away from Vina del Mar.  Some friends live in Con Con (also about 10 minutes away), and they met us in Valpo for lunch.  It was a lovely afternoon of colorful vistas, bargain shopping, and fabulous conversation.

Valparaiso was once a thriving and hugely successful port center for Chile.  Once known as the "Jewel of the Pacific" and "Little San Francisco", it was an attractive locale for many European immigrants.  Unfortunately for the city, the opening of the Panama Canal drastically reduced its shipping traffic, leading to a significant decline in much of the city's commerce and vitality.

One of the friends we had lunch with is originally from Valpo.  As we were walking around after lunch, she wistfully pointed out several buildings and sections of the city telling me what they were like in their former glory.  Interestingly, many of the Valpo families and businesses relocated to Santiago; so it could be argued that the decline of this city has led, in part, to the current thriving of Santiago.

Since our previous trip to Vina del Mar was so enjoyable, we taxied back to the same hotel for four more nights.  The kids were pleased with this arrangement, because after an afternoon of shopping and talking to grown-ups they were able to log four days of considerable pool time!  It was a lot warmer this trip, and our hotel had just opened their outdoor pool.  The kids played at this one for a bit, but due to the brisk winds, they would quickly skip through to the much more reasonable temperature of the indoor pool.

These short trips are a nice change of pace from the noise and hustle of Santiago. While I enjoy getting away for a bit, I always feel a sense of relief and greater appreciation for our apartment life in the city.