Valparaiso Chile ~ Travel Pictures & Information

On the Road to Valparaiso ~ Casablanca Valley wineyards

Heading northwest from Santiago, the road goes through several tunnels (one is 3 km long) that shorten the trip through the mountains of the Cordillera to the cool mists of the Casablanca Valley. These coastal fogs and higher humidity (as you can see on the mountain top) are favourable for the slow ripening of grapes used for Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. All along the highway, California poppies (dedales de oro -- golden thimbles) were in full flower.

Valparaiso the Port of Call for many South American cruises

Founded in 1536, Valparaiso was the major, and first, port of call for ships 'rounding the Horn'. When the Panama Canal opened, much changed as shipping took the shorter route to the Pacific.

But as shipping rebounded, so had the use of large shipping containers, and they were too large and too many for Valpo to handle. These days, the port of San Antonio, to the south, handles the bulk of the load. This view is looking north, to Vina del Mar.

Chilean Seat of Congress in Valparaiso

Though Santiago is the capital, the Chilean Congress is now here in Valparaiso.

This new 'Seat of Congress' was built in 1990 on the site of (former dictator) Pinochet's childhood home, at a cost of $100 million. Residents joke that the move was made because politicians prefer the resort-like atmosphere and Mediterranean climate of this area.

Valparaiso Market

This sculpted cable marks the market on the edge of Valparaiso. Vendors plunked down on the boulevard to spread blankets on the ground to protect their wares, mainly clothing.

Further down the block in the main market, covered stalls were filled with fruits and vegetables, cheeses and honeys, as well as linens and clothing.

Valparaiso's Famed Funiculars (ascensors, elevators)

Called 'ascensors' in Spanish, these rail cars act as elevators to take residents up and down the steep hillsides of this city.

There are 15 of them in all, and it's possible to spend an entire day just going from one to another.

One Pablo Neruda House - La Sebastiana

This house is named La Sebastiana, one of three 'Pablo Neruda' houses (there's one in Santiago and the more famous one in Isla Negra, south of here).

Chile's beloved poet apparently spent little time at this home in Valpo, as the city is known, but did make a point to be here for the fireworks over the harbour each New Year's. The house is built on many levels, and open to the public, but no photography is permitted inside.

Ascensor Artilleria near Valparaiso's Naval College

This funicular is the Ascensor Artilleria, and serves visitors to the Naval College at Paseo 21 de Mayo.

This view is from the top, just as it begins to head down the hillside.

Souvenir Stands, artists' market near Naval College

At the upper terminal of the funicular, this shady plaza is filled with souvenir stands offering T-shirts, sweaters, post cards and hand beaded jewellery.

There's a place to grab a coffee and sit back and admire the view. Many streeets are done in cobblestones, the rocks coming as ballast in long-ago ships coming to pick up nitrates.

Row House condos in Viña Chile

Fronted with a spacious, quiet street that overlooks the Bay of Valparaiso, these condo style row houses filled an entire block.

The fenced front yards were totally given over to landscaping and Mediterranean plants. These condos bring to mind the terrace homes in the U.K.

Valpraiso Chile B&B patio

Here is one of the B&Bs in Valparaiso, Chile.

Thanks to Chilean journalist Carmen, this picture of a B&B and the one above, of the row houses, have been identiified as being located in Valparaiso.

I lost about 8 pictures when I dropped my camera while touring Vina and Valpo, and so a few were out of sequence. (If you've ever dropped a really good camera, especially at the start of a long trip, you'll appreciate what I was going through.)

No excuse, though. As a journalist I know that accuracy is paramount. Until Carmen kindly dropped me a note with the correct information location, I had no one to ask. Thank you so much!

View across the bay From Valparaiso Hills

In the Pablo Neruda house, you *are* allowed to lean out an open window to photograph the bay.

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