Valparaiso, Chile - Faded Glory

Ok, I'll admit it. I fell in love with this city. In some ways it is like San Francisco, but more quirky, eclectic, steeper, with more electric Kool Aid colors. The house in this picture has been in several movies because it is 3 stories on one side and 6 on the other - dramatically showing how steep the hills are. You need to be in shape to tackle them.
At one time Valparaiso was a rich elegant city; the stopping off point for all ships on their long journey south. After the canal was built the city declined. It is in a semi- renewal mode now, with sections completely remodelled and showing off their bright new colors. Other sections have the old beauties, the victorian mansions sitting in ruins, while other sections have people living in huts made of corrugated tin. Even these huts in some places are painted the bright colors.
With the incredibly steep hills the city at one time had over 40 fenunculars, the elevator type cars that run on a track at an angle. As one car goes down the other comes up. Our tour group rode in one of the few left.
A large cobble stoned central square has statues, stores, and the headquarters for the Chilean Navy. The Navy building is an exquisite rennovation of one of the old mansions in grays and whites with maroon trim.
As the tour bus took us through one of the darker crowded streets of ruined buildings we were told that this section had been declared a World Heritage Site 10 years earlier. Unfortunately no investment has been made to restore that section and it remains a reminder of what might have been.
I will return to Valparaiso and spend more time getting to know this intriguing city. Every corner seemed to have more surprises and a half day is just a tease. Some of the photos I took of the city are titled Valparaiso, Chile on my photo website. Click on the address below, click on the Valparaiso photo for the album, and then click on "Slideshow."

http://picasaweb.google.com/ramblinme