Aril 1 Easter Bunny found us!

Fog closes in and lasts all day with a high of about 14. Not what we had expected for Easter. No new bonnets and clothes this year. Also no sign of religious events here.

  However, I do catch one of the interesting ceremonies on TV. It is the burning of Judas which is done in some smaller communities outside Valparaiso. A bit like Guy Fawkes style. 

  However, we don’t feel bad as Calgary is getting lots of snow, the coldest Easter since 1940.

  We talk on What’sApp to Ali & Rob in Ronda, Spain - the world is a small place with wifi.

  Surprise! Ted has failed the chocolate Easter Bunny test BUT our hotel delivers a wee bucket of chocolate eggs and a bunny to every room. Sweet! When we raise our mugs at breakfast, there is more chocolate there. Yeah. 

  We borrow the metro card and are off into Valparaiso to see if there is any sign of Easter there. 

  We have a disappointing mostly foggy trip up the mountain by cab. We are off to visit the second of Pablo Bermuda’s home La Sebastian’s at Isla Nedra, named after the builder of the original house, to which Neruda added many more rooms and levels. It is overlooking the crashing waves and rocky coast quite a spectacular view from the bed, placed at just the right angle to catch the views. Its a 4 story eclectic collection of myriad types of memorabilia, much of it associated with the sea. Not quite as interesting as the house in Santiago we think.

   Later we walk down to what was listed as famous artists’ murals, not as impressive as the amateurs we had seen before. Also the seedy end of Valparaiso. We are glad we cancelled bookings to stay here. There’s a street party going, with a great young group of musicians playing jazz and popular Chilean songs. We stop off in a small local resto for a good bowl of seafood soup.
    Later we walk down to the resto area, only to find the one recommended is closed today. But we enjoy Peruvian food again at a nice small place before plugging ourselves back up the big hill home.