A day in Valparaiso

The excursion required about a 90 minute drive from the port in San Antonio to Valparaiso, Chile.  The tour included the old, hilly part of the city.  There are a total of 42 very steep hills, and we used two funiculars during the visit to the city. 

The view of the harbor was the best today.  It was a little cloudy and overcast.  You still get to see the colorful houses that have been inspired by different counties (there are Victoria homes, hotels that look like something from Germany, etc.).  The one thing they have in common is that they are on the side of the hills of the city. 

The bus went by the Plaza Sotomayor, traveled by the stock exchange and other public buildings.  The guide described the graffiti murals that adorned the sides of building (some were intentional and others seemed to be vandalism). 

The group toured the museum home of Pablo Neruda who won the Nobel Prize for literature and poetry.

The final stop was lunch.  La Columbia was the restaurant high on a hill overlooking the harbor.  A piano player serenaded us, and the food was good.

It was another trip down a funicular to reach our bus and return to the ship.  Our guide, Luis, did a pretty good job and had a sense of humor.



There are 42 hills surrounding Valparaiso.  They are filled with mansions, tattered houses, and shacks.

Street art abounds.  This is a restaurant that I think serves empanads.

The city surrounds the port which is primarily a container port.

The Chilean Navy is also in the port with some very old style ships...

...and those of the modern navy.

Another one of those 42 hills.

More street art.

The Plaza Sotomayor and the monument to the Heroes of Inquique.

An abstract of the writer/poet Pablo Neruda.

The home of the Nobel Prize winner goes straight up with one room on top of each other (5 levels on the hills)

Here I am outside the home of Pablo Neruda.  That is supposed to be his profile (not that of Donald Trump which it reminded me of when I first saw it).

The day required four rides on a funicular.

The view from the restaurant where our group had lunch.

The food was great.  A fish dish followed the salad.  Desert was a custard with fruit topping.

Piano music played by this young man was part of the entertainment at lunch.

Across the bay.

You would be in good shape if you lived in Valparaiso.

The square outside the restaurant.

Umbrellas were outside one restaurant.  I believe it was for a wedding.

Down the funicular to return to the bus and to the ship.  It was a great day in this Chilean city.