Twin Cities

We have been staying in Vina del Mar, but originally there was Valparaíso. This port city had a heyday as the port most boats used immediately after rounding Cape Horn. The Panama Canal put the town into an enormous depression.  There are still buildings that are falling down because of the reduction in trade a hundred years ago.

But the Panama was the second of two devastating things that happened in the early 1900s. An earthquake and the associated fires happened in 1905. Until then, the (mostly reclaimed) flat land along the coast had industry and most of the poor people’s houses, while the rich lived in the houses above the escarpment. For them to get to work, there were 29 funiculars, although only five are still operating.

The houses are painted many colours.

Recently, there have been many pieces of city-sponsored graffiti. One piece (the words) was originally painted on some steps, and became famous. The city painted over it, but there was such a worldwide outcry that the city paid someone to repaint it exactly as it was originally.

After the earthquake the rich people created a new city slightly further north along the coast - Vina del Mar where we visited gardens.

I’m staying there, and took pictures including one of a pelican from my balcony.

We also went to the house of the Noble laureate in Valparaíso, where we could photograph the views.