Famous for the way it climbs up the hills from the waterside. The most prosperous city of Chile, also starting to become a cultural center. Possibly. It looked pretty run-down to us, and the harbor which occupies your view from almost wherever you are does not show romantic schooners and clippers as of yore - rather, stacks of containers, freighters shlepping them and cranes hoisting them.
We couldn't possibly skip this legendary place while in Chile. Ever since seeing what is among my favorite Joris Ivens' flicks, A Valparaíso, I wanted to go there. No disappointment here.
Look Who's Boss
Funny, but it's like that all over Chile: The dogs act like the place belongs to them, and people act like the dogs are right.
Ascensores
One of the most famous aspects of the place: Funiculars, all built around the turn of the 19th century, to save people treading up and down all those horrible stairways - and to make a buck in the process, naturally. Often private enterprises. Many now in disrepair, now less popular with the ever-increasing rumble of motor-traffic. People living there (Valparaísans?) often were surprised in our interest in them; on the other hand, some have been taken over as obvious tourist traps with cafés and souvenir kiosks at the top. (the one up there starts in a tunnel)
now... I dare you to look at these Ascensores
in stereo/3D I double-dare you... Get it?
I double-dare you... Get it?
