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descript=Santiago, Chile’s capital and largest city, sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and the Chilean Coast Range.  Plaza de Armas, the grand heart of the city’s old colonial core, is home to 2 neoclassical landmarks: the 1808 Palacio de la Real Audiencia, housing the National History Museum, and the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral. La Chascona is the home-turned-museum of poet Pablo Neruda. This morning we checked out of the [Santiago] hotel at 8am and Gabriel, our driver and tour guide, picked us up to drive us firstly, to the port city of Valparaiso (Chile).  Dave had been looking forward to going here, from where our cruise ship was originally going to depart, as the city is known for its steep funiculars - apparently the town has about 15 but only 8 or 9 are working.  Unfortunately at the last minute while we were still at home, they changed the departure port to San Antonio so Dave organised a driver to take us to Valparaiso first and then on to San Antonio.
