Valparaiso is a vibrant city about 1.5 hours from Algarrobo. We took a very comfortable bus that dropped us off in the city centre. We didn't even notice the 6 or so quakes that happened whilst we were en route. The City is a mix of old and new mingled together. Some of the older buildings are a bit worst for wear but must have been beautiful in their heyday as some facades have been incorporated into the modern design structure. In the old part of the city we found buildings that were just a shell where construction is taking place around them.

The houses are built on the hillside that climbs up from the harbour and port, some are placed precariously on the edge of outcrops of rocks on long stilts and are tighly packed together giving the impression from afar that they are tumbling down towards the sea. Because it is so steep there are several funicular railways that can take you up the hillside to a fantastic view across the city at the top. Or, as in our case, when the funicular isn't working, you can take a winding path of steps that climb haphazardly up the hill. Many buildings have graffiti in its rawest form, but artists have taken over and transformed many buildings into wonderful works of art, some of which are quite thought provoking, but all are colourful and intriguing to the eye. The old town area has taken it to the next level and it's been turned into a tourist attraction, a colourful outdoor art museum to roam around.