Chile Wednesday 16th October

We have a free morning and elect to go to the Museum of Memories which chronicles how over 22,000 people were tortured and killed with over 2000 never found, but presumed dead during the years of the military Junta and Pinochet's dictatorship 1973 - 1989. Not that long ago really. One of the most disturbing things for me was how the press was manipulated to spread propaganda as reporting the news.

Banners used in the protests

Pictures or representations of the people killed

A typewriter from the offices in the Presidential Palace bombed during the take-over.

The start of the "Fake News" The suicide of Allende has not been supported by recent forensic investigations.

 Use of electrodes was extensive in the torture of so called informants, but there was also an impressive array of ways that political prisoners kept themselves occupied during those dark days - writing and poetry, carving, sewing, weaving and drawing.
All in all it was a sobering experience - but I was also shocked when we left the Museum to find armoured tanks and military personnel  just across the street at the entrance to the metro.
Just three days later we hear that the metro system has been torched, seven are dead and a state of emergency with a no travel edict had been issued. Thank goodness we were in Argentina by then.

After lunch we packed our bags into the minibus and set off for Valparaiso. We stopped out in the wine district at this charmingly named vineyard.

Organics require an awful lot of hand work

A nosy alpaca and many chooks at to the menagerie here

 Chile exports 80% of its wine, and keeps 20%, but in Argentina these figures are reversed. It doesn't take long to see the differences and similarities to what we know. I was a well behaved tourist though, and when our guide said "Look at the little bunches of grapes just forming!" I didn't enlighten her that they were the flower inflorescences - and its a long way, fraught with danger, from these to little grapes,

OK, Duncan and I are in our element!! But you can tip out those white wines!

 We have a lovely room at Hotel Gallos, but still pondering how they got the Fiat Bambina on the roof of the house next door.

Hand knitted cushions and rug and a wool fibre wall-hanging.

 This evening we all went out as a group again - this time to Vinilo. I could not manage an entree sized meal - it was too big and a bit stodgy. Still enjoying the carmenere red wine.

Bruce enjoys yet another pisco - he's not a wine man

This ones for you Rua. All music on vinyl. Those old Beatle songs got us  going.

 After we get back from the restaurant we head up to the rooftop - even though its freezing! Fantastic views of the harbour and the hills of Valparaiso spread out around us.

Harbour

Hills