Casa Olga B&B

Mummys in Museum Fonck

by filipdebont

Besides the part of the Easter Island archeologics there was also an interesting part on Chilean history with all kind of objects from the mainland, and of course the Mapuche culture.

There was even a mummy.

At the second floor there were all kind of local stuffed animals (condor ...)

And also a small section on the headhunters (showing the techniques to make small heads . . .)

Walk around the centre of Viña

by kiwigal_1

The older part of Viña del Mar is the area around the plaza and the main street. It is worth taking a walk around the area to appreciate some of the older buildings architecture in the city.

There are plenty of restaurants and shops in the area on Avenida Valparaiso, the main plaza (Plaza Jose Francisco Vergara) and not far from here is the bus terminal to Santiago.

On one such walking trip I came across a building that dates back to the early 1900´s. Turns out to be the Club de Viña, an old gentleman´s club.

Not far from here also is the old Parroquia de Viña del Mar.

If you go past the plaza and cross over the Puente Libertad and walk up Av Libertad you will see the Palacio Carrasco Cultural Centre and not much further on where it intersects with 6 Norte is an old cathedral.

Great place for kids

by filipdebont

It looked as Vina del Mar was an ideal place to come with kids. Along the sea shore there were several facilities with kids toys, like just behind Vergarra pier there was a court with small vehicles were the kids could race (of course at low speed).

There were also jump castles, and near the casino there were ponies to ride on, och yes big fun for the kids.

Vina del Mar

by easterntrekker

"Vina del Mar"

We knew we were in trouble when on the way into town from the bus window we could see the fog...or smog . Not sure which . Vina del Mar is a resort area in summer ....but when we went in Nov it was quite empty...nothing happening at all.

Oh well . ...not enough research...it was before VT .

We had fun anyway and took the time to roam around and see the sites!!

The Santiago Beach resort

by chancay

"Viña del Mar"

A beautiful little town just next to Valparaiso with some beautiful gardens, interesting museums about Chile history and of course a lot of beaches.
On the photo it´s the Quinta Vergara, a mansion that once belonged to the daughter of the founder of Vina del Mar, and is now an art gallery. In the summer Viña's discos, parks, and beaches are completely filled (thanks to jarandah for the info).

"I would like to add another Neruda poem here:"

Ode to the Book
translated by Nathaniel Tarn

When I close a book
I open life.
I hear
faltering cries
among harbours.
Copper ignots
slide down sand-pits
to Tocopilla.
Night time.
Among the islands
our ocean
throbs with fish,
touches the feet, the thighs,
the chalk ribs
of my country.
The whole of night
clings to its shores, by dawn
it wakes up singing
as if it had excited a guitar.

The ocean's surge is calling.
The wind
calls me
and Rodriguez calls,
and Jose Antonio--
I got a telegram
from the "Mine" Union
and the one I love
(whose name I won't let out)
expects me in Bucalemu.

No book has been able
to wrap me in paper,
to fill me up
with typography,
with heavenly imprints
or was ever able
to bind my eyes,
I come out of books to people orchards
with the hoarse family of my song,
to work the burning metals
or to eat smoked beef
by mountain firesides.
I love adventurous
books,
books of forest or snow,
depth or sky
but hate
the spider book
in which thought
has laid poisonous wires
to trap the juvenile
and circling fly.
Book, let me go.
I won't go clothed
in volumes,
I don't come out
of collected works,
my poems
have not eaten poems--
they devour
exciting happenings,
feed on rough weather,
and dig their food
out of earth and men.
I'm on my way
with dust in my shoes
free of mythology:
send books back to their shelves,
I'm going down into the streets.
I learned about life
from life itself,
love I learned in a single kiss
and could teach no one anything
except that I have lived
with something in common among men,
when fighting with them,
when saying all their say in my song.

from:
http://www.lone-star.net/literature/pablo/