Valparaiso
Marc and I initially thought of traveling to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar after a lady in Bellavista tried to sell us a day tour to these two places at 28,000 pesos per person. After converting the amount into US dollars, we figured it wasn't so bad joining a group tour.
However, we changed our minds about joining the tour after we realized that taking a bus was peanuts and that we could really just do the touring ourselves. We did and boy were we floored when we purchased our tickets at the Turbus sales office and paid the equivalent of US$12 for both of us. It was way cheaper than joining any group tour.
As far as I can recall, the bus ride took no more than two hours by bus. The ride was smooth and comfortable. In fact, it even had a bathroom on board for people like me who needed to use it rather frequently.
We arrived in Valparaiso rather early. I believe it was 10 am when we did. Upon arrival, we asked for a map from the tourist office inside the bus terminal right away and off we headed straight to the city center. I would be lying if I said I didn't get scared of the city. It was a Sunday when we went there and given the time we arrived, everything was closed and the city was totally deserted. What scared me the most was the area we walked through to go to the historic city center. We took the backstreet right where the central market was and the area was pretty grim. There were drug addicts and drunks and the dilapidated buildings and the overall stench of the area made me want to take the first bus back to Santiago. I really questioned why we even went there.
Given that reviews on Tripadvisor advised visitors to be very vigilant, I couldn't feel being very, very cautious. It was quite easy to see that Valparaiso was a city full of murals. They were everywhere. Then we stumbled upon a walking tour headed by a guide named Alvaro who welcomed us. We joined his group making us feel more secure and safe. Anyway, as the day progress, the city became alive and more people could be seen. It was only then did I feel more at ease.
This was the bus company we used to travel to Valparaiso. If I am not mistaken, we took the metro to the Universidad de Santiago to get to the bus terminal in Santiago.
This was the first of the many murals we saw in the city.
This was one street we walked through as we went touring in the city. Valparaiso was totally deserted at that time since it was a Sunday morning and businesses were mostly closed. It was only around 11 am did the city come alive.
THe city was old and beautiful.
Here's another mural.
And another. They were painted on walls, on gates, and even on store fronts.
This was the mansion of one European immigrant who passed away without any heirs. He donated his residence to the city and it now stands as a museum.
A view of the colorful city of Valparaiso.
Isn't it pretty?
The site of the Chilean Navy Office
