#71 Cap Ducal in Vina Del Mar

A Chilean Ship-Shaped Hotel!

In March of 2013, Don and I had one of our most memorable overnights at this odd hotel beside the Pacific, in Central Chile. 
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Since 1936

This art deco structure has been entertaining travelers and locals for a long time. Don and I heard about the hotel from a few people we met in Santiago before coming to Vina.  One said she remembered coming as a child to the hotel, for grand puppet shows. Another said the the hotel's restaurant was the best in Vina Del Mar.

We Came For A Drink

We had heard the hotel was booked, but stopped in one evening for a drink.  Max the bartender treated us well. (Maybe because we were the only ones there) He served our drinks and supplied us with tasty spread of olives, cheese and bits of beef on toothpicks.  While chatting, we determined there had been some miscommunication about the "booked" hotel.  We ended up making reservations for the next night.
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Our Non-Floating Hotel

I was pretty delighted when we checked in the next day.  The whole place just made me laugh with the retro, nautical feel!  Rounded woodwork and brass railings everywhere!  Even thought the building is not a boat, everything felt a bit tilted, as if you might need to grab the railing at any moment to keep from sliding across the floor!
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Going Up

Both options for reaching the second floor, were tricky. Don and I couldn't fit ourselves and all our bags into the cage-like elevator, so Raul said he would bring up the rest.  By the time we reached the second floor, Raul had already dashed up the spiral staircase with our gigantic load and was standing at our elevator door!

Our Junior Suite Awaits

I've always been amused by the term junior suite.  Does that mean it's a "little bit" luxurious. Or does it mean it's a glam suite for tots.  Who knows, but our junior suite was amusing. And we loved it!  Yes it was oddly worn with faded spreads and drapes with many patterns.  But it was grandly spacious and the open windows let in the sea breeze and sounds of waves and seagulls!
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 It sort of reminded me of a Greenwich Village apartment in the 1960's, with book shelves and cafe tables.  I could have enjoyed lounging with a book or just staring out the window at the waves crashing up against the hotel, built out over the water.
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Nautical Blue

This room with the blue tile, held the Jacuzzi tub and pedestal sink. There was another door off the bedroom that lead to a tiny closet that held the toilet. That sort of cracked me up.  But no complaints. We weren't sharing a bath with other hotel guests!  

Cheers to Cap Ducal!

The restaurant didn't open until 8pm.  So we made reservations and arrived early so we could enjoy some Pisco Sours and a little of the bar's ambiance in the daylight.  Reviews for the restaurant all raved about the food, but some picky people  suggested coming after dark, to avoid seeing the worn appearance.  I don't agree.  I was happily amused by the faded patchwork fabric that covered our bar table. (Do I recognize that material from my grandmother's apron?) I just don't like to miss a thing!

Our Table

We were able to reserve the best dinner table at the very bow of the boat, overlooking the water... and the curious Wulff Castle. 

​Candlelit Meal

The food, the service and the view, could not have been better!  The candles in their iron stands, seemed to be the only light in the dining room. That meant we could see out over the water, long after sunset.  
We enjoyed razor clams with cream sauce, then sea bass and conger eel.  There was a zippy flavored chocolate cake with surprising slivers of orange peel.  All was perfect!
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A Surprise from Raul and Max

Our team of servers brought us very curious complimentary shots of some kind of Chilean drink.  Raul did his best to translate for Max.  Evidently, there were some herbs involved, that would help with gastronomical problems!  Hmm? Did we look like we had issues?  My grin is ridiculously large, so the photo must have been taken before I took a sip.  It was nearly impossible to swallow, as I recall!  
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Morning at The Cap

We fell asleep quickly with the open windows and waves pounding.  And the Chilean drink must have worked, since we woke feeling fine!  A spread of complimentary breakfast foods awaited in the dining room.  Don posed nicely between the buffet and the sea maiden, hovering above his shoulder!
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What's Notable?

We loved our stay at our quirky ship-hotel!  It felt a little odd that we only saw a few others. So what, if the floors and linens were dated and sun faded?  The staff and food was all fresh and pleasing!  Great stay and fun memory!