Valparaíso
Chile's colorful seaport city occupies a stretch of hills and cliffs along the Pacific coast.
Ascensor
The neighborhoods and shantytowns that make up Valpo are connected by rickety funicular elevators know as "ascensores." Public transit, roller-coaster style.
La Perla del Pacífico
From the top of Cerro Alegre, one can see why Valparaíso proudly bears the name "The Pearl of the Pacific."
La Bahia
Across the waters, the wealthier neighboring cities of Viña del Mar and Reñaca are visible.
Old Church
UNESCO recently named Valpo's historic quarter a World Heritage Site.
Narrow Streets
The hills are a warren of narrow, cobblestone streets, all of which seem to lead out to spectacular views.
Floating Cemetery
A peek over rooftops and onto the grounds of a cathedral.
Caution: Steep!
The precipitous roads make walking around Valpo quite a workout.
Maritime Business
Although Valparaíso is being used less and less as a seaport, the Navy stations most of its ships here.
Squeezing Through
A brightly lit alleyway in Cerro Concepción.
Rainbow Vision
My favorite thing about Valpo is how brightly and vividly painted all the homes are, and how they all seem to balance precariously on stilts.
Pancho y Alvaro
My hosts for the weekend. While they cleaned their apartment for their imminent moveout, I roamed the cities with Stef.
Sunset over Valpo
The view from a beach in Viña del Mar, near Alvaro's apartment. The hills look like they are studded with jewels.
Chorillana
As a reward for a hard days work, Alvaro, Stef, Pancho, Maga, and I head to the infamous Jota Cruz, which reputedly offers the best chorillana in town (onions, eggs, and meat slathered on french fries).
The Coast
The bus ride from Valpo to Viña runs along the picturesque coast.
Pelicans
These enormous birds skim the surface of the water in droves.
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