Day 13- Valparaiso

The next day, we drove out to the port town of Valparaíso with a private guide. It's an extremely bright, colorful, and densely built town.
IMG_1884 The next morning, we take the hour and half drive from Santiago out to Valparaíso, or Valpo as the locals call it.
The next morning, we take the hour and half drive from Santiago out to Valparaíso, or Valpo as the locals call it.
IMG_1885 Getting ready to take the funicular up one of the very steep hills in town.
Getting ready to take the funicular up one of the very steep hills in town.
IMG_1889 A look out from the top of the funicular down at the incredibly dense buildings. Valparaíso was the busiest port in South America until the Panama Canal...
A look out from the top of the funicular down at the incredibly dense buildings. Valparaíso was the busiest port in South America until the Panama Canal…
IMG_1895 One of the many ornate churches in Valparaíso.
One of the many ornate churches in Valparaíso.
IMG_1899 Next we take a tour of Pablo Neruda's house, a Nobel Prize winning poet and ambassador for Chile.
Next we take a tour of Pablo Neruda's house, a Nobel Prize winning poet and ambassador for Chile.
IMG_1901 The view from the 3rd floor of Neruda's house.
The view from the 3rd floor of Neruda's house.
IMG_1905 Elsewhere in Valparaíso, an old prison has been converted into retail and office space.
Elsewhere in Valparaíso, an old prison has been converted into retail and office space.
IMG_1914 Valparaíso is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is famous for its street art.
Valparaíso is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is famous for its street art.
IMG_1924 The town is full of incredibly steep streets, giving it a very San Francisco feel.
The town is full of incredibly steep streets, giving it a very San Francisco feel.
IMG_1929 A look out at the cemetary and dense buildings on the hills beyond.
A look out at the cemetary and dense buildings on the hills beyond.
IMG_1931 More colorful street art.
More colorful street art.
IMG_1934 Some of the murals are actually painted sideways on the buildings. That must be hard to do!
Some of the murals are actually painted sideways on the buildings. That must be hard to do!
IMG_1935 Valparaíso is home of the Chilean Navy, with several vessels currently at port.
Valparaíso is home of the Chilean Navy, with several vessels currently at port.
IMG_1943 A colorful walkway.
A colorful walkway.
IMG_1944 A very skinny house between two steep streets.
A very skinny house between two steep streets.
IMG_1953 Headquarters of the Chilean Navy.
Headquarters of the Chilean Navy.
IMG_1955 An impressive statue at the bottom of the hill near the port. We stopped for lunch at a great little cafe where I had Pastel de Chocro, a traditional Chilean...
An impressive statue at the bottom of the hill near the port. We stopped for lunch at a great little cafe where I had Pastel de Chocro, a traditional Chilean…
IMG_1960 A look at the port. Though not as important as it once was, it's still the largest port in Chile. Our time in Valparaíso is unfortunately done, and we...
A look at the port. Though not as important as it once was, it's still the largest port in Chile. Our time in Valparaíso is unfortunately done, and we…
IMG_1942 A typical brightly colored alley in Valparaíso.
A typical brightly colored alley in Valparaíso.