 Chile Map
As you can see from the map, Vina del Mar and Valparaiso are only short distance - less than a two hour bus ride - from Santiago.
|  Plaza de Armas, Santiago
Plaza de Armas is the large open plaza in the center of Santiago.
|  Entrance to Cerro Santa Lucia
This public park in the center of Santiago was created in 1872. A climb to the top of the hill (cerro) rewards you with panoramic views of the city.
|  Cerro Santa Lucia
Unfortunately it was a cloudy day and the views from the top were limited.
|
 Artichokes
A cluster of enormous artichokes photographed at a street-side vegetable and flower market.
|  Mercado Central
This elegant steel structure was fabricated in England in 1872 and then assembled here. It is home to the city's picturesque fruit, vegetable and fish markets.
|  Fish stall in Mercado Central
The highlight of the market is the many fish stalls packed with eel, shark, octopus and numerous unidentifiable fish that look fresh enough to escape.
|  Restaurant at the fish market
The best part of any trip to the market is a meal at one of the many fish restaurants lining the hall. You order the fish, they grab it from the stall, cook it and deliver it within minutes to your table.
|
 About to devour shrimp
Ross ordered a dish of freshly cooked shrimp for lunch. They were tiny shrimp cooked to perfection in a garlic-butter sauce you could smell for blocks.
|  Hotel Bonaparte, Santiago
We stayed at this relatively small hotel tucked away in a quiet residential neighborhood in Santiago. Info: http://www.hotelbonaparte.com/
|  Santiago view
This view was rarely visible during our stay. Smog and low-lying clouds obscured the Andes mountain backdrop during most of our stay. (This is scanned from a postcard.)
|  Valparaiso hillside
The city of Valparaiso is a jumble of multi-colored clapboard homes and mansions sprawling over its 42 hills.
|
 Valparaiso street scene
The city is actually divided into two towns: the flat, lower town ("El Plan" - the business area) and the upper town with its agglomeration of buildings of every shape and hue.
|  Valparaiso stairway
The lower and upper cities are connected by winding streets and steep stairways.
|  Ascensor El Peral
In order to avoid a climb up (or down) the stairs, ascensores (cable cars)- constructed in the early part of the 20th century - are still used today. For a small charge (about 20 cents), you can ride up or down one of the city's fifteen funiculars - each unique in design and view.
|  Valparaiso street scene & bay
One of the joys of this city is simply to wander the street and enjoy the superb bay views.
|
 Valparaiso house
Every street seemed to contain a unique mixture mansions and townhomes that varied in style, size, color and condition.
|  Window scene
This city of nearly 300,000 was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2003.
|  Street juggler
This street juggler was entertaining drivers stopped at a traffic light in Valparaiso. Just before the light turned green, the juggler would "pass the hat" to collect change from the motorists.
|  Valparaiso bay
Valparaiso, founded in 1542, became one of the most successful and vibrant port cities in all of South America in the 19th century.
|
 Valparaiso bay
The city's decline occurred after a devastating earthquake in 1906 coupled with the opening of the Panama Canal a few years later.
|  Valparaiso graffiti
Not only were the buildings painted in vibrant colors, but many of the walls were adorned with art and graffiti.
|  Fire hydrant
Even the fire hydrants were transformed into street art.
|  Valaparaiso graffiti
|
 Valparaiso mosaic
A mermaid mosaic found in a small public square in Valparaiso.
|  Valparaiso park
|  Offenbacker-hof Residencial
We stayed in this bed-and-breakfast in Vina del Mar - the neighboring city to Valparaiso. It was only a quick subway ride to get from here to the heart of Valparaiso. Info: http://www.offenbacher-hof.cl/
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