Cool town ~ Valparaiso

Valparaiso is a big town on the Pacific Coast of Chile. I love it. Prior to the construction of the Panama Canal, it was a major port city - many ships travelling from California to New York and beyond would stop there. The town fell into decay with the opening of the canal, however, recently it has undergone (and continues to undergo) a revival of sorts – becoming THE centre of art and culture in Chile.

The town is made up of colourful ramshackle buildings, set on the steep cliffs of the Andes overlooking the Pacific. Throughout the town there are many 19^th century inclinators (called accensors) for getting up and down the hills – they are a scary ride. There is art everywhere – you cannot turn down a street without walking past a bright, beautiful mural. Walking the streets was like walking through an art gallery.

The town was hit hard by the February 2010 earthquake in Concepcion and we could still see signs of the destruction. Most notably, the town’s once famous seafood market was abandoned. We spent a couple of days checking out Valparaiso and it's neighbouring town, Vina del Mar. We also drove north along the Pacific Coast, past beaches and little fishing towns. 

The streets of Valparaiso

Street art

Walking the streets

Dolls are made and burnt on Easter Sunday for good luck

Mural near the market

Sopapilla

Open top cage at a pet shop

Sibaritico - Huge hotdog as seen on Anthony Bourdain

Eating Sibaritico, overlooking the Pacific

A mist cloud moves into Vina del Mar

View from our hotel, Valparaiso

Breakfast at our hotel

The port area

Mirador, Valparaiso

Cute wall in a cafe

Terrace houses

Dinner at Vanilla restaurant

Mending a fishing net

Seabirds, Pacific coast