Valparaiso

I fell in love with Valparaiso, also know as Valpo, nearly the second I arrived. Its as if when arriving somewhere amazing and it just feels like a home away from home. People believe in love at first site with people and for me its with cities, why not. Valpo is a gorgeous and very quirky city set above the harbour. There are a series of Cerro's or neighbourhoods, each with its own plaza and funky atmosphere. From the bottom of the harbour its a trek up giant hills to get to hostels and restaurants. The city is explored vertically, occasionally taking a cross street to get to the next Cerro and walk up and down more passageways. What makes this city so unique is the colorful houses, painted sidewalks, walls, stairs, and mosaic in the strangest places. Walls and houses are covered in graffiti murals, impeccably done. Houses are lime green, bright blue, purple, pink and yellow. You get directions like this; at the green house go left pass the purple house on top of the gray house across from the house with a painted dragonfly and then up, up, up is where you can find the best sushi. The are artesian markets at every turn, mosaic light posts and benches, woman dancing salsa, flowers lined along rod iron gates, and even a bathtub being used as a flower pot. The city has a very young and sometimes even bohemian vibe with tourists from all over the world filling the streets.



I've been spending my time winding up and down the streets of the majestic city. I went on a boat tour of the harbour passing by floating structures covered in sea lions lazily sunbathing and pelicans diving into the sea, scooping up fish into their large bills. I went to Chilean poet and Noble Prize winner Pablo Neruda's house which follows the quirky theme of Valpo. Its named La Sebastiana after the architect who first lived in the house. Its five floors with each floor only consisting of 1-2 rooms and a nearly a 360 view of the harbour below. I spent my last day soaking in more sun at Viña del Mar along the brilliant blue sea.


The hostel "Acuarela" has been filled with excitement. There are about 15 people from around the world filling the rooms and surrounding the breakfast table while laughing and speaking in all languages. The night life here is late, usually cooking dinner around 9pm and drinking wine and dancing till the very early hours of the morning. There are markets strew along the corners selling fresh fruits and vegetables and a kitchen full of company. I find it quit enjoyable spending time in the kitchen preparing pastas mixed with lots of herbs and veggies. I often find myself sitting in doorways along the hill practicing my Spanish and people watching.