Tierra del Fuego, Chile   -   This is a large island at the southern tip of South America.  Half the island is owned by Argentina and half is owned by Chile.

The fjords in southern Chile    -    This area is very similar in appearance to southeast Alaska.  There are thousands of islands and glaciers that end at the sea.

Valpariaso is the port for the capital, Santiago.  The city is built on the side of steep hills.  There are a series of "ascensors", elevator like trams that carry people to the upper neighborhoods.  

Valpariaso is a mixture of beautiful 19th century architecture. . . . . . . . .

. . . . . .and ramshackle old buildings.  This combination is one of the reasons Valparaiso is a World Heritage Site.

Santiago is the capital of Chile and has a population of 5 million.  It is completely surrounded by mountains and often suffers from a heavy layer of smog.  We were lucky the weather was beautiful and the air was very clear.  The Andes mountain range comes right down to the edge of the city. 

La Moneda in Santiago is the President of Chile's house.  The Chilean army bombed this house when they took over the government in 1975.  Now Chile has a democratic government again and most of the house is open to the public.

Changing of the guard at La Moneda in Santiago.

Chile is famous for its wines.  The Cousino-Macul Winery is on the outskirts of Santiago.  It is over two hundred years old and produces excellent inexpensive wine.  The wine costs from $2 to $20 a bottle.

We traveled from Valparaiso, Chile on the Atlantic to Buenos, Argentina on the Pacific via various buses.  This bus took us from Santiago, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina, crossing the Andes.

The road over the Andes was spectacular.  Paso de Los Libertados is 9,500 feet above sea level and the two lane road climbs very quickly.  It is the main connection between Chile and Argentina.