VALPARAISO CHILE – Odd, Unique, Quirky and Full of Character

We planned a short visit of 3 nites in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Valparaiso. This small but bustling port city on the Pacific coast of Chile, is about one hour NW of the capital of Santiago. We were quite fortunate to reserve a private "suite" bedroom with private bath in the highly-rated Portabello B&B Inn, which sits high up on the hillside overlooking the Port. Valparaiso is definitely a "working-class" and sometimes ‘gritty’ and somewhat dangerous city in parts, but with incredible character and architectural oddities. Unlike many other spanish heritage cities, it was built without central planning, and its streets and houses follow haphazardly the difficult geography of twisting turning hillsides and coastline. Streets and pedestrian alleyways snake through the city, with beautiful queen-ann style victorian homes sprouting everywhere along the way. The City also boasts several Funiculars to help people traverse the steep hillside climbs. And, of course, great seafood abounds and is the meal of choice in this port city, accompanied by widely acclaimed Chilean wines. Truly, this is a unique and wondrous city more than worthwhile for a short visit.