From the funicular, the bus transports us the short distance up the coast to the upmarket area of Vina del Mar. Although there are numerous castles (right) and old mansions here, our visit is confined to a very substantial, and most enjoyable, lunch at the Nogaro  restaurant in which wine and the local grape brandy pisco flow freely. Perhaps fuelled by the alcohol, there is plenty of banter across the large table, and the lunch goes on too long. The drive to Santiago, via a winery, commences behind schedule

Near the Nogaro restaurant there is a statue of the

Chilean naval hero, Arturo Prat, and a magnificent tree

We reach the vineyard in the Casablanca Valley at about 4pm. The winery tour, which lasts about 90-minutes is very interesting, and the weather is now sunny and hot. The good explanation of wine making is followed by the opportunity to taste the product

Jeanette is joined by Steph and Michael for the wine tasting,

before the bus takes us through the remainder of the

Casablanca Valley to Chile's capital, Santiago

The Hotel Plaza San Francisco is located on the Avenida Libertador  Bernado O'Higgins (the city's main thoroughfare) near Santiago's city centre - the hotel is very large, and our room is on the 11th floor. Great views from the room are somewhat spoiled by the windows being rather grubby. Our late arrival here is marked by some anxiety as the luggage is unloaded onto the street without secure oversight. The late arrival also causes tonight's included dinner to be postponed - a welcome decision given the substantial lunch enjoyed earlier. We are still amply fed by that lunch, so go to an outdoor terrace on the 5th floor for just drinks before enjoying an early night

Wednesday, March 20th: our last full day of the holiday includes a 4-hour morning tour of Santiago. This is followed by a free lunch negotiated by Mark as compensation for the insecure unloading of the luggage on the previous evening

Pedro Aguirre Cerda,

President of Chile,

1938 - 1941

(left)

La Moneda Palace, the seat of the President

(right)

 

The Catholic University of Chile

(above left)

This mural outside the Santa Lucia Hill's park and gardens is near to our hotel.

 

The morning bus tour takes us along part of the impressive 10-kilometre boulevard that the hotel is located on, which is named after Bernado O'Higgins, the man that freed Chile from Spanish rule. Our first stop is at the central square: Plaza de Armas