Valparaiso

been there a few times
its were my dad was born :)

La Hija de la Fortuna / Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende (born in Chile) is set in Valparaiso… it’s a great story – one of my favorite books.

Also, during the dictatorship of Pinochet, the congress was moved to Valpo, I believe.

Pretty much the same town as Vina del Mar—Santiago’s beach playground & getaway.

http://niemandsland.waarbenjij.nu

I’m chilean. Last year I signed to an exchange program in my school, and I had an Alabama girl in my home for two months. We went during winter vacations to Maitencillo, and for a day we did a trip to Valparaiso, cause is really close to Maitencillo. So my mom, Susan and I went to Valparaiso during this really warm day…We went to Cerro Alegre, bought some clothes, saw several art galleries, and the best thing, some people doing art theatre and a wandering spanish music band, and then we ate in this really hip cafe. I had been in the city a lot of times, but this time was really special and nice. I recommend it 200%, is just…incredible, beautiful, lots of cultural stuff to do and see, the bay is amazing. You can’t really recommend where to go, the best thing is to take some time and wander around the Cerros, talk to people, enter the art galleries, eat and relax.
OMG, I wish I could live there.

i want with a group that day, we drove out from santiago to valpraiso, it was fantastic! the view from all points was breath taking! we got robbed by gypsies, but it was so minor its just a good story now.

I have a thing for temperate coastal cities, I love the sea- someone once told me that Lisbon, San Francisco, and Valparaiso have so much in common. And I’ve been captivated by this poem by Neruda, here is the English translation:

I love, Valparaíso, everything you enfold,
and everything you irradiate, seabride,
even beyond your mute nimbus.
I love the violent light with which you turn
to the sailor on the sea night,
and then, orange-blossom rose,
you’re luminous and naked, fire and fog.
Let no one come with a turbid hammer
to pound what I love, to defend you:
none but my being for your secrets:
none but my voice for your open
rows of dew, for your steps
on which the sea’s brackish materninty
kisses you, none but my lips
on your cold siren’s crown,
raised in the air of the heights,
oceanic love, Valparaíso.
Queen of all the world’s coasts,
true headquarters of waves and ships,
you’re in me like the moon or like
the bearing of the wind in the treetops,
I love your criminal alleyways,
your daggerlike moon upon the hills,
and amid your plazas the seafolk
decking springtime in blue.

Please understand, I beg you, my seaport,
that I’m entitled
to write you the good and the evil
and I’m like bitter lamps
when they illuminate broken bottles.

Avoid night time outtings alone because of assaults.

Streets can be dirty, graffitied, full of dogs.

Its a very cultural and artistic city.

I LOVED Valparaiso. the hills are so cool to explore and the Ascensors are worth riding just for the novelty. Stayed in a hostel called Luna Sonrisa and it was awesome – owned by a Chilean organic baker and a British travel author. definitely eat at la desayuno and cafe vinilo and visit Pablo Neruda’s home. it was a little cold in July though…

This was my home port on my ship. Needless to say, I spent more time in Vina del Mar than here (around $10 in a cab) or $1 in the bus.
If you are so inclined, go up one of the death defying ascenciors(?sp). Have chilean money with you as the ladies don’t accept $US. It was cheap..about 30cUS. Some may require new underwear after this ride.

It is so pretty, and old, and full of history. I only had an afternoon and I would have liked to have had a week.