Alice and Randy Live in Chile: Last Days in Chile

Our final days were full ones as the flight from Santiago to Atlanta leaves at night. We were sad to leave our home in Vina and our friends in Valparaiso but happy to be returning to the comforts of Auburn and our loving cats and family back home.

We visited the newly reopened Palacio Rioja in Vina. This is a historic mansion that is now a museum. Not all of the rooms were renovated yet but we viewed the ones that were. This was interesting and free!

Worth a visit in Vina

The entry of this impressive former private residence

The beautiful entry doors

One of the salons

The newly refurbished dining room

We strolled along the sea and then headed downtown for our last evening. This night was special because the championship game of the Cupa America (American Cup) of soccer was taking place. And, the players were Chile versus Argentina. Because it was Sunday evening, many restaurants were closed but we found a casual place, Burgeria, with the TV going and sat upstairs. We ate sandwiches and fries and cheered Chile on.

We never get tired of walking along the sea front in Vina

Ordering at Burgeria and waiting for the game to start

Randy and his massive burger

A good place to watch a game

The game went to overtime and we decided to walk back to the apartment to view the rest of the game. The streets were empty as everyone was inside watching the game. We were lucky in that during our 20 minute walk nothing happened with the game. We got back in time to see the final kick off on TV and Chile won when world renowned Argentine player, Lionel Messi, missed his kick.

The celebrations began!

The papers the next day

Our last day was a holiday in Chile - Saint Peter and Saint Paul day. We visited the Fonck Museum of Vina - this is a converted mansion that houses exhibits on the natives peoples of Chile and the flora and fauna of Chile. It has the finest collection of Easter Island artifacts located outside of the island. A well informed guide offered her services in excellent English for free. We enjoyed this small but interesting museum - Randy and I had visited at least three times and even had this guide before. But, we never get tired of it, or its moai from Easter Island outside.

The timeless moai stands sentinel in Vina far away from its home of Easter Island

Our guide explains the geography of Easter Island

A stuffed Humboldt penguin - the cute guys we saw earlier at the Cachagua island

We then walked across the small river to the south part of Vina. We viewed a historic church and went to the large park - Quinta Vergara. It was good to stretch our legs before the long flight and the weather was outstanding.

Our Lady of Agony Church at a main square of Vina

An interesting building nearby - probably a former mansion

Entrance to Quinta Vergara - Rachel even climbed the hill to the left

Our final event was a good one - a holiday barbecue at Jimena and Pedro's country house in Quilpue. We always enjoy getting together with our favorite couple in Chile - and meeting some other friends and devouring the delicious home cooked foods are added bonuses. As a final benefit, the weather was awesome - a great send off from our amazing month in Chile!

Randy and the last Pisco Sour

Some student friends

Ash and Rachel partake - the guy at the left is a Fulbrighter at another university in Valparaiso. We got to meet him and his wife and son and exchange notes about living in Vina / Valparaiso. Note that Pedro and Jimena are hard at work at the grill.

Chilling out

Our chefs with the fried fish

I close with a few choice photos of our experiences this June in Chile:

The iconic Pisco Sour

I actually did work on the port project - here with Diego, Jimena and Felipe and the manager of Agunsa in Placilla

Apartment shopping for our place for 2017 - until Randy had enough - here a view from a prospective apartment in Concon. We chose a place in the center of Vina.