R. Doug Wicker — Author

Overlooking Valparaíso

Ursula and I left Santiago on the morning of March 13 and traveled via bus to the port city of Valparaíso, arriving there in plenty of time to do some major exploration on foot.  It was quite a change from Santiago, both visually and culturally.  The murals of Santiago are displaced here by graffiti, and architectural beauty is much less abundant.

Corrugated building

Our accommodations were first rate, however.  We stayed at the colorful ibis Hotel located along the bay and adjacent to the railroad tracks and a convenient nearby shopping mall and a grocery store.

ibis Hotel Valparaíso

We had a quick bite to eat at a charming little establishment called Capri, where we sampled some of the local Chilean fare.

Capri Restaurant — a fun place for a taste of Chile

Here’s a better view of their “menus,” but be sure to check out the daily specials once you’re inside (click image below to enlarge):

Capri “Menus”

After lunch we headed to Plaza Sotomayor.  Here you can see the Monument of Heroes dedicated to the heroic captain and crew of the wooden Chilean corvette Esmeralda.  Esmeralda met her fate at the hands of the Peruvian ironclad turret ship Huáscar during the fierce Battle of Iquique in 1879.  The statue atop the pedestal represents Esmeralda Captain Arturo Prat.

Monument of the Heroes

On the east side of Plaza Sotomayor is a building housing offices of the Chilean Navy.

Chilean Navy Building on the Plaza Sotomayor

After a brief stint around Plaza Sotomayor and the hills behind the Navy Building Ursula and I headed north to catch one of the several funiculars serving Valparaíso’s many hillside neighborhoods.  The higher you go the better the views.

Valparaíso Bay

42 hills surround Valparaíso

Valparaíso hillsides

Spend some time exploring these higher venues for some interesting shots.

Climbing a hill in Valparaíso

Colorful doorway