Valparaiso Day 1
After arriving in Valparaiso and resting from our long and harrowing journey we set out to explore the city. Valparaiso is a colorful jumble of houses stretching across a set of coastal hills. This port was once one of the richest cities in the world but a hundred years ago its wealth dried up and the city fell into disrepair. A decade or so ago the area was rediscovered by Chileans and foreign tourists who were drawn to its charm and mystery. The streets wind and climb the hills splitting and rejoining to form a labyrinth of sorts. In its older historic neighborhoods there are lots of little cafes and bars as well as small artisan boutiques. We could easily spend a week here, but due to a lack of couch surfing hosts our hostel budget will soon force us onward.