Valparaiso

Did a walking tour of the city, which we often like to do straight away when we are in a new city; it helps us to get a sense of the place, its history, culture, where to go, what to eat… This tour was an exceptionally good one.

We started in Plaza Sotomayer, which is named after Rafael Sotomayer who founded the Chilean Navy. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site because of its historical significance and buildings. It’s pretty, but sometimes you just have to question those UNESCO designators 😂.

There’s a statue designating their last naval battle in 1879! Back then, both Peru and Bolivia joined forces against Chile. Chile lost that naval battle but ultimately won the war. It was a war that lasted five years and is known as the War of the Pacific. It was fought for control of the Atacama Desert and their mineral-rich coastal region. Bolivia lost its coastal region in this war, which is why it is currently landlocked.

Apparently Chile is the most seismic region on the planet and is part of what is known as the ring of fire. Valparaiso meanwhile is most known for its funiculars, which are trams that take you up its steep hills. According to our guide, the hills are at a 41° angle. I’m sure he is right but initially thought he was full of shit because it looks way steeper. There are stairs that parallel the trams, 161 steps in total, and is quite the workout to do everyday up and down. Naturally Stacy and I are staying at the top of one of these hills.

The city is also a major port with tons of longshoremen operating 24/7. I imagine living here would be like living close to the harbor in Oakland, cranes, trucks and containers as far as the eye can see. We did a graffiti and art tour as well, which was probably the highlight of the tour. Valparaiso is an artsy city and can see they take pride in it. Overall it was a really fun day.Read more