February 11 - To Valparaiso

Today's first chore was to pack up, say farewell to Gloria and head to the bus station.  That's a Metro (subway) ride to Parajita station and pick up a bus to Valparaiso.  We just missed a bus when we arrived and had to wait a whole 15 minutes for the next one.  A typical bus, brand new, spotless, assigned seats and a comfortable ride.  The only photo on the way there was of this winery in the Casablanca valley.  As we got nearer the coast you could see the landscape becoming greener.

Valparaiso is a coastal port for Chile and Santiago, and is bustling.  Just to the north of Valparaiso is Vina del Mar, the holiday playground for rich Santiagans.  Laura (of Scotch heritage) has booked us into a hostel in Valparaiso.  That's fine - we can buy more vino with the money saved.  A couple of features of Valparaiso: it is very hilly as you will see, and it is known for having its share of pickpockets and thieves (which I hope I don't have to tell you about).   There are lots of other features about Valparaiso which I will get to as we go along.

Here's our hostel - La Nona.  Typical street in Valp - houses are built side by side, against the sidewalk.  Older building, 12 foot ceilings, comfortable.  Our bathroom is behind the flag, our bedroom is to the left.

And a view dooowwwwn the street. That is Vina del Mar way out in the distance.












 Another crazy street - I'm going to have to ask Rene (our host) if they have such a thing as property boundaries around here.

Another feature Valp is famous for is it's murals.  Here is the left side of the first of probably many pictures of them.











And the right side.  These shots were from far away.  I'll get some better shots as I get lost trying to find my way around town.

 Here's one for you, Debra.  Somebody made this mosaic on the sidewalk outside their front door.  It's starting to suffer from the traffic, but is still quite pretty.











One of the main plazas downtown.

And the principal statue in said plaza.  Plaza Simon Bolivar, I believe.






I'm at the waterfront now.  Most of the docks are inaccessible due to freight yards and a railway, but the public can get right down to the water at one point.

Here is a view of a bunch of boats.  From the way seats are arranged ion most of them, I assume they are tour boats of some sort.

More of these boats.  Check out the one on the right - what's with the flag under the pilot house?  I just asked Rene, but he doesn't know anything about it.  A relative or girlfriend, perhaps.

Maybe I'll take a water tour, but not with theses guys - check out the list and they aren't even moving.  If I go, I'll stick with a one deck version.  I like stability.








There are a number of public markets down by the waterfront (more photos tomorrow). There is a very "eclectic" variety of goods available, ranging from handmade goods, all sorts of food to what appears to be people selling anything that they think they can make a few pesos at.  Check out this logical combination - fish (Sea Bass) on the right and toilet paper on the left.  And there is a large supermarket (Unimarc) down the street.

  

I'll end today with another mural I saw as I got lost heading back from the docks.  Don't ask me to find it again.  I'm taking my GPS tomorrow.  At least then I'll find my way back up the hill.

Tomorrow's agenda is a morning "Free for a Tip" walking tour and who knows what after lunch.