Coastal Adventure

Rolling hills, vineyards, clear blue skies and a landscape reminiscent of Wyoming.....Just a few of our observations as we left the densely populated and hazy skied city of Santiago and traveled west towards the Chilean coast. 

The smell of fresh fish and the moist, salty air piognantly confirmed that we had arrived at the ocean. We were in the port city of Valparaiso, a quaint and colorful city nestled into a bay on the west coast of Chile. Our first stop was the beach front and fish market. Many unfamiliar species of fish were being filleted around us, admittedly, not always an appealing site. Those seemingly most eager for the fish market were a group of "sea wolfs" who fought over scraps frequently dumped over the side of the pier. I must say they did not appear to be under nourished!

While on the boardwalk we stopped for a delicious lunch, with many of us choosing fresh fish, while overlooking the ocean. We were entertained watching families with young children on the beach, listening to roving musicians and observing a submarine lurking quietly through the bay.   

While in Valparaiso, we took the opportunity to visit the eclectic home, "La  Sebatiana," of Pablo Neruda, famous Chilean poet-diplomat and Nobel Prize winning writer. Neruda took three years to finish the home and it was inaugurated in 1961 but when he died in 1973, shortly after the coup d'état led by Pinochet, the home was looted. Now restored, the home is a museum and a testament to the Chilean's love of their native son.

Navigating the narrow, steep cobblestones streets was well worth the effort for us to visit we the Lutheran church, "La Santa Cruz,"in Valparaiso. We were overwhelmed with the beauty of a traditional German Lutheran church complete with carved wooden pews and railings, an impressive bell tower and a magnificent  pipe organ built in 1897. It stands as a testament to the Chilean Lutheran's love of God then and now. 

Our day ended by visiting and staying at the EILCH's Bible camp at El Tabito. El Tabito is a small summer vacation community on the coast. The camp consisted of several modest dorms, chapel and dining hall. We feasted on homemade tacos for dinner which highlighted the culinary abilities of Bishop Prois! Even though it was a bit rustic, we all felt the warmth of God's love in this place. Our tummies and hearts are filled. Buenos noches y que Dios los bendiga.