Street Art and Cafe Culture in Valparaiso

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Valaparaiso, a colourful and bohemian artistic enclave on the pacific coast 2 hours from Santiago. Street art is everywhere and as we arrived at Casa Verde Limon, our hostel close to Cerro Concepcion, a street artist could be seen through the window finishing up his latest piece. The city though was suffering a bit of a hangover from New Years and looked a bit scruffy. Certainly in the sea front areas we could find nothing too exceptional. Take an ascensor up to the Cerros (hills) and the view changes for the better. A maze of little streets, buildings of all colours, street art to stop and admire, pleasant cafes and restaurants all making for an enjoyable atmosphere. It was there on Cerro Concepcion we spent a perfect afternoon.

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Photos

Admiralty Plaza Sotomayor
Louise stood on the lower step to pose with the Chilean Navy chaps, stand tall fellas.

Cerro Concepcion
View from the top of Ascensor Turri

Cerro Concepcion
View over to Cerro Artilleria

Cerro Concepcion
colourful houses

Cerro Concepcion
View up Templeman street

Cerro Concepcion
Sleeping dogs and street art combined!

Cerro Concepcion
Louise and a street art lion

Cerro Concepcion
Street art lady

Cerro Concepcion
Street vegetable market

Cerro Concepcion
Louise consults the book in the maze of little streets

Plaza Sotomayor
Funky little car pumping out tunes infront of the Heroes of Iquique monument

Plaza Sotomayor
bumped into this cheeky little chap

Calle Cumming Prison
Now turned over as a social arts centre

Calle Cumming Prison
and a chance to get a bit creative with the camera

Calle Cumming Prison
where is that husband of mine?

Casa Verde Limon
Our home for the 4 nights. It had a trapeze in the central atrium that hung down 3 floors.

Beach time at nearby Vina del Mar
Louise emerges victorious after her trans pacific swim.