The photo on the Valparaiso blog is really Vina del Mar (I am still working out the bugs), a clean, orderly manicured town on the Pacifico about 20 minutes up the road from Valparaiso. It's a popular weekend and summer destination for wealthy Santiaguinos even though the Humboldt Current causes the waters to be chilly enough to put off most swimmers.

Saw not only pelicans, but sea lions sunning themselves on the rocks. Ate a fish called "Reina" freshly caught (a delicious white fish) and served with pureed potatoes. Delicioso!

We weren't impressed with the botanical gardens, but at the Fonck museo, we saw some gruesome artifacts, including shrunken skulls of the Inca peoples' enemies and a 2 headed llama which I have now deleted from my photos because it was too jarring.

Spent the evening relaxing at our hotel without TV, without pool, just a balcony overlooking the hills of Valparaiso . Sounds of a person sawing, roosters crowing, rock music blasting away , as well as the usual barking dogs.