Valparaíso and A Quick Peak at Viña del Mar

On Friday evening we left the rain in Santiago behind us and drove about 120 km to the northwest, to the Pacific Ocean. While the boys went out in the evening, I decided to stay in and prepare myself for the next morning, when my beautiful goddaughter was about to celebrate her first big event since the birth: the Christening. After little Vivian Amelie was christened and the boys properly awake, we went for a wonderful breakfast.

Valparaíso

The sky was a bit foggy that day so one couldn't spot the horizon easily.

We had great breakfast at El Desayunador.

Valparaíso is Chile's most important seaport, but also UNESCO's World Heritage Site since 2003, and a cultural haven with its unique cityscape and exceptional architecture. Even the poet Pablo Neruda loved the town by the sea so much that he had a house built there.

Sotomayor Square facing the Chilean Navy, Armada de Chile.

What is it about the uniforms that makes the sailors so attractive? ;)

The seaport of Valparaíso carries very international freight.

Another thing Valparaíso, or Valpo, as the locals call it, is known of are its numerous lifts. With the ascencor you can get almost on top of any hill.

Ascencor Artilleria lifts people up the hill already since 1892. And any less nervous does not make the fact that the curve grade is 30 degrees steep.

Cerro Artilleria offers a view to the seaport.

The Naval and Maritime Museum is located on the top of the hill Cerro Artilleria.

Boys being boys.

The view from Cerro Artilleria.

Going up the hill is a way to spend the day but also a popular tourist attraction.

How do you dry your laundry in a city with little space? Hang it out the window and let the sea breeze dry it, if you don't mind a little fish stink on the clothes.

The houses at the end of the street show that nearly every square meter of the city is in use. And most of them have a sea view!

Ascencor El Peral was even steeper than Artilleria - 48 degrees.

Casa de Luis Miguel.

The view over the city from Cerro Alegre, the "happy hill".

Captain Esmeralda.

How they manage to make that bundle work is beyond wonderment!

The last stone-old lift took us up on Cerro Polanco underground but we had to walk first half a kilometre through a tunnel. It's sure not a place for a claustrophobe!

The daily rhythm plays a different beat here than in Santiago.

A view over a poorer part of Valpo.

These little settlements in the slums were the first time we saw some in Chile.

A fleamarket in Valpo.

Viña del Mar

The difference between Valparaíso and Viña del Mar is like night and day. Whereas Valpo is a scruffy harbour town, Viña is polished sunshine treat with beaches and palms.

The flower clock in Viña del Mar.

The palm trees, beach and sea definitely give you a holiday feeling.

Of course I had to try my best Baywatch moves on the beach.

The attack of the waves!

Chilly weather - not even thinking about the seawater's temperature - didn't stop the passionate surfers.

Happy to see the Pacific Ocean for the first time.