La Belleza de Valparaíso – The Beauty of Valpairiso

Valparaíso or Valpo is a port city of great history (gran historia) and equally one of undeniable beauty and culture.  It was established in the 16^th century as a port for the Spanish Conquistadores and today (hoy) serves as the main port for goods that are shipped from Chile all over the world (al todo el mundo).  The main export products in Chile are copper (cobre), fruits & vegetables (frutas y verduras), and of course, wine (vino), and the harbor at Valparaíso is filled with cargo ships from Europe, the Far East and points across the globe.  While on the shore (en la playa) and looking out into the harbor, one can see ships from countries such as England, Russia, Japan and Germany.

Yet, the town (la ciudad) of Valparaíso also has a strong artistic presence, in part due to the impact of Pablo Neruda, the Noble Prize winner (ganador) for literature in the 1970s.  Neruda had a home in Valparaíso, La Sebastiana, which currently is a well-visited tourist destination. The importance (la importancia) of Neruda and his meaning to Chile cannot be underestimated or undervalued, and view from the top of his home is a reminder that he sits atop the artist community (la comunidad de artistas) and consciousness here in Chile.  His home, now a independently funded museum, sits high atop the hills (los ceros) of Valparaíso, almost all of which are incredibly steep and long. 

The streets (las calles) are so steep, even more than anything I have traveled on the streets of San Francisco, that I had to stay in first gear on my rental car just to keep the RPMs high enough (bastante alto) to keep the car climbing.  To offset this throughout the city, Valparaíso has a large number of elevators (los asesores) are located all over the place, and date back to the end of the 19^th and beginning of the 20^th centuries.  Historically, these elevators were used to transport heavy materials, such as barrels (las barillas) of heating oil, furniture, and building supplies, up the hills to other levels within the city.  The oldest (el mas antiguo) elevator is near Cerro Concepcion, and is still operating today, and for just about 50 cents US, you can take a ride up in the elevator, a trip that is timeless in its presentation and unprecedented in its value (su valor).

Ultimately, a trip (un viaje) to Valparaíso should also include a journey out in the water (en el mar), as this allows the visitor a change to view the entire city from a unique and important vantage point.  From the docks, you can get a ride on a local boat for between $ 2-4 US, and you get to see all the various ships up close.  You can also see the hills of Valpo very well, with all of the colorful homes (casas de colores) dotting the hillsides, like a brilliant painting on a huge canvas, a perspective of beauty that is both awe-inspiring and breathe taking.  You can also see lost of wildlife, such as sea lions (lobos del mar) and pelicans (pelícanos).

To me, a trip to Santiago and this part of Chile would be incomplete without a visit to Valparaíso.  The charm, the art, the views and the history (la historia) make it a must see for all.