Colours on the hills

As a last stop before the visit of my parents I am in Valparaiso now. First impression except for it s realy sad weather at the time is that is even more Western than the previous parts of Chile I visited. We didn't do that much on our first day, but recovering from the night bus we took. We are still Clare and David (English couple) and John (independent English) by the way, people with whom I am traveling together since San Pedro. After laisy, rainy day 1, came nice, sunny, active, cultural (!) and party day 2. We went up one of the old ascensors of which there are around 10 I guess and that bring you up the many cerro's (hills) that surround Valparaiso. Valparaiso is actually much like a amphiteatre at the sea side, with the center down in the middle and the rest of the city going up the hills. The ascensors are realy antique and a very nice experience. Up the hills you arrive in a completely different city with small streets and steep stairways between houses that are painted in flashy colours. Very nice, certainly if you add to this the magnificent view of the city you get from up there. We strolled a little bit in the neighbourhood, and dicided to go up to Pablo Neruda's house. Very nice also, even a better view of the city, and ... also a bit of culture, the man wrote some nice poems! In the afternoon a took a long walk towards Vina del mar, where the beaches are, as all of the sea front is taken in by the harbour in Valparaiso. And there I found a rich, modern, beach side town. OK, but Valparaiso is nicer to stay in I guess. At night we tasted nightlife, with some Mexican food, some beers and some salsa in a local place.

01 Valparaiso ascensor

02 Valparaiso

03 Valparaiso

04 Valparaiso