Alice and Randy Live in Chile: La Sebastiana and More

Sunday we visited two apartment possibilities for next year including one over our beloved Divino Pecado. Then we took Fatih to La Sebastiana. This is the former house, now a museum, of the Nobel Prize Laureate for Poetry, Pablo Neruda. He also had houses in Santiago and Isla Negra, south of Valparaiso. I had seen the other houses but not this one here in Valparaiso.

A wonderful tree near the casino in Vina

At the iconic flower clock with Fatih in Vina

Driving into the hills of Valparaiso is challenging but we located the rough area of the museum and parked on the street. We then walked a few blocks until we found the museum. There were quite a few tourists there for the small place that it is. The weather was wonderful so we enjoyed the views and the audio tour guide of the house which is five stories but small on each story. Photos inside were not allowed (though Fatih broke this rule) - only photos from the rooms to the view outside. I liked it probably the best of the houses as the views to the sea across Valparaiso are wonderful. We all really enjoyed this outing.

Enjoyed this place - certainly worth a visit even though I am not a Pablo Neruda fan

At the deck at La Sebastiana

Another glorious day in Valparaiso

From one of the rooms to the city scene

A lily on the grounds

I don't know this flower but it is impressive

The tall and skinny La Sebastiana

That night we went to my friends Lorena Bearzotti's house in Vina. She has an older townhouse in the part of Vina near Valparaiso. She and her friend/housekeeper Hilda welcomed us with snacks (fritters, guacamole, nuts, tuna dip) and hot tea and coffee. Lorena's two cats, Mimi and Simon, also welcomed us. They are both black and white and quite large. Lorena brought Mimi from her native Argentina while Simon adopted them once they moved to this townhouse. We watched some soccer and warmed up (it was really cold that night).

With the vivacious Lorena at Casa Bearzotti

Simon

Mimi

With Hilda enjoying some herbal tea

Hilda cuddles Simon

We then drove to Vina all together to a restaurant called A Mano - Gin and Burgers. It is a kind of student handout with hamburgers, other sandwiches, a few salads and potatoes Brava. We ordered two large orders of the latter along with a salad and some drinks (they brew their own beer). The potatoes Brava were really good. The atmosphere was interesting - funky with a marijuana plant and loud music. But, it was a fun evening! A great end to a great weekend!

Randy noticed the marijuana plant in the restaurant - talk about farm to table

The girls

The boys

Sitting under a really crazy and scary looking cat

The yummy potatoes Brava come with merken - the unique and delicious Chilean spice mixture

The restaurant in Vina - our first time at this student pub

Monday and Tuesday were spent working at the university while Randy and I both battled some virus. We ate in on Monday evening while Randy and Fatih went to Ruby Tuesday's (the American chain restaurant) in Vina on Tuesday evening and brought me back some food. I stayed in and watched the U.S. play Costa Rica in soccer - the American Cup taking place in the U.S. coincidentally. We could not watch our Auburn Tigers Softball, who were battling in the World Series in Oklahoma, but we picked up the radio broadcast for a while. They won the second game in exciting fashion with an extra innings walk off grand slam home run (after dropping the first game).