Here I am in Valparaiso again. This is my 7th trip to Chile in as many years, 5th time to Valparaiso.I come down to Chile every year, my son and his family live here, including my 2 only grandchildren.
I've done 3 diaries on Valpo wall art and a couple of more on Chilean wall art in general, like this one in Valdivia.
If I list all my diaries on it then everybody will look at it and my photobucket will freeze up again from being too popular so if you really want to look at them go back in my diaries.
I will make mention of this one because I went there the same exact way--Metro to Pajaritos station, bus from there to Vina Del Mar. This was a mistake---went to the wrong town, had to take a $20 cab ride to Valpo.
Vina Del Mar is a big Miami beach type town---long beach with highrise apartments and hotel along the costanera. Its right next to Valparaiso, which is the funkier town, the port.
Well, I didn't buy the tickets, my Chilean amigo did, got us on the bus, so it wasn't a bonehead gringo thing. (Gringo is getting to be a word here but its Mexican. They're using a lot of English words now too, like OK, Happy Hour, minimart, email, streaming, wraps, sandwiches)
So I stayed in Barrio Templeman in Hotel MonteAlegre which I liked a lot better than last year's hotel. I'll go back there again. we got a good deal on the 'net: about $75/ night for 2 nights total. That was a room with 2 beds AND a bath. Its worth a few extra to me not to have to feel my way down a corridor at night. Free breakfast continental style.
I'll always come to Valpo, its a fascinating place. This is my 4th diary on ths and I haven't repeated a work of art once---there's plenty more
Just freaking fabuloso.
Here's a good video on Valpo wall art.
This stuff is incredible. I've seen other places with wall art but nothing this fantastic. Wandering the streets here is like wanding in an open air art museum. Warning: the sidewalks are cracked in Valpo and its easy to trip on them while wandering around going "Wow, just WOW!"
This is some of the art in Barrio Templeman, all within a few blocks of the hotel.
(You can see more here)
Here's your Intrepid Traveler, in the place he wants to be