First we toured the harbor area as part of our "private tour" of the city
We soon realized that we would be the ONLY ones on the boat besides the crew, our guide Sean and a local cartoon character, El Condorito
Valparaiso is the headquarters of the Chilean Navy The sailing vessel, Esmeralda, is used for training
Ongoing drills prevented us sailing closer but	local sealife posed for us
A lovely panorama of the hills of the city visible from the boat
Once on shore it was time to scale the heights of the city
There are many funiculars, 'ascensores' throughout Valparaíso. Local people & tourists alike use them to access areas high up in the picturesque hillside neighborhoods. Some of these are over 100 years old and still functional.
The mirrored walls of this building reflect its surroundings	Native trees and plants enhance the atmosphere
The hills (cerro in Spanish) are known for their artistic murals
Sean, our guide, described the content and history of the murals
Content varied from whimsical to natural to historical topics
Even the many stairways were decorated
All the things you cannot buy - the sun, wind, heat, sorrow, happiness	This keyboard has a larger story behind it
It was created to honor a local man, "Uncle Beethoven" whose music was heard from his house on this corner for decades until his death
Unique, colorful architecture at every turn
A well known photo spot looking down upon the harbor
After lunch we continued our walk through the hills. You can see MORE MURALS HERE