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| Valparaiso view |
Valparaiso stands on a hill with bright buildings and patios and sky scrapers tumbling toward the sea. Steep hills and one ways that make driving and parking quite a challenge. After wondering around for a long time, we eventually found a parking on top of the hill in a slightly questionable spot. Traipsing down we were looking for a recommended restaurant per the Lonely Planet that ended up being closed.
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| Valparaiso - creeping over the hills |
So on our way up the hill again (with many stairs and my puffing and wondering how I’m going to ever manage the Inka trail), we eventually found a stunning restaurant with a beautiful view and some really stunning food. It had such personality, even if it was a little touristy.
Valparaiso also has some amazing street art, and with JP, I really started to appreciate it. Not something I would normally appreciate, but it’s amazing how much you learn as you travel from everyone around.
The slightly safer place to stay is outside Valparaiso, over the hill in Vina del Mar. Vapraraiso definitely has more of a student vibe to it with plenty of bars and eating places. Vina del Mar is a quieter place but still interesting.
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| Street artists - working on a mixture of mural & graffiti art |
Vina del Mar’s eating places were mainly situated in one area. With lots of “yes please” and “hello” and people trying to get our attention to come into their stall, we finally picked a place that served us one of the hugest meals I’ve ever had. Chatting to the waiter, it seems that this is normal for Chileans in that area and people normally finish the meal. I could only finish half the burger I had and even JP couldn’t finish the pile of food in front of him.
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| Graffiti in Valparaiso |
We met a fellow traveller at our hostel, Mike and ended up going for dinner and beers with him and visiting Vina del Mar’s beach together. JP made a new friend on the beach. It was a four legged, tail wagging, black furred dog who ended up chasing sticks thrown and running into the ocean and back in one big game.
On the evening before the Chilean National Day, we went out to try find the party we knew would be happening. Vina del Mar was particularly quiet and I ended up going to bed to cope with an early start rather than party through. But the boys went through to Valparaiso and found that this was the happening place. At 4am, JP met me at the car to drive through to Santiago to catch our 9am flight. Next stop, Peru!
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| Lunch in the sun |
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| A private home in Vina del Mar - nice! |
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| Vina del Mar - some of the view |
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| Yum coffee shop |
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Vina del Mar art - this mas was really proud of it, when he saw us
taking photos he showed us his other door too. |
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| Local Catholic Church |
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| Kites and our new friend |
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| Playing on the beach |
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| View of Vina del Mar |
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| They have a "man gym" too! |
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| Everyone flying kites! |
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| Yay for beaches! |
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| Love these birds! |
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| A local fort |
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| Mike and me |
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Me, Mike and JP on top of the fort's tower.
View back to Vina del Mar |
On the evening before the Chilean National Day, we went out to try find the party we knew would be happening. Vina del Mar was particularly quiet and I ended up going to bed to cope with an early start rather than party through. But the boys went through to Valparaiso and found that this was the happening place. At 4am, JP met me at the car to drive through to Santiago to catch our 9am flight. Next stop, Peru!
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