Valparaíso and Santiago

After Valle del Elqui, we returned to the beach, where we set up our tent for one night at a small campsite. The next morning, we decided to hitchhike to Valparaíso. But before we could even finish writing our cardboard sign to stand by the roadside, another guest at the campsite approached us. He also planned to drive to Valparaíso in his small delivery van that afternoon and spontaneously offered to give us a ride. In the end, he even invited us to a barbecue at a friend's house where we could also stay overnight and have breakfast. The next day, he even drove us to the center of Valparaíso. That was probably the luxury version of hitchhiking ;)

For the next few days, we immersed ourselves in the bustling city of Valparaíso. The city used to be an important trading center, as many ships on their way from Europe to the North American West Coast would make a stop here. Accordingly, it is characterized by various types of European architecture. However, since the opening of the Panama Canal, trade has declined, and it is evident that the city's best days are behind it. Nevertheless, the numerous murals that can be found throughout the city give it a special charm. The contrast couldn't have been greater when we took a trip to Viña del Mar, which is only 30 minutes away. The tidy, clean, and organized city is the complete opposite of the chaotic, somewhat run-down, and dirty Valparaíso.

We were very excited to visit Jeanette in Santiago de Chile, whom we had met at the beginning of our trip in Huaraz. We were able to stay at her place and benefit from her tips and recommendations on what to see in the city. We climbed Cerro San Cristobal, which offers a wonderful panoramic view of the city. We also walked around the city, tried typical Chilean dishes, and visited a free Picasso exhibition. On a city tour, we went to various markets and visited the huge cemetery, where people drive with cars or bicycles, meet for dates, or leave special wishes at graves of people they believe possess certain powers to fulfill those wishes, even though they are unknown to them. We only spent three days in this huge city, but we still discovered some beautiful spots. At the same time, we also learned about Chile's dark past, which endured a terrible dictatorship in the 1970s and 80s. We noticed that unlike Bolivia or Peru, Chile has addressed and learned from its history instead of just mourning the good old days.