Valparaíso

I went on a Tufts sponsored day trip a week ago to the port city of Valparaíso (Valpo). Valpo is a working class city about 1.5 hours from Santiago and its economy has been linked to the port and sea trade since its inception. The city rises precariously from the central port because it was built without a city plan on a series of steep hills. I enjoyed walking around the narrow streets and alleys because many of the houses are brightly colored and the walls are covered in street art.

After a full day tour several of my friends and I ditched the bus ride back to Santiago and stayed for the weekend. We went to the restaurant that invented the Chilean culinary treasure called La Chorrillana (see the 1st blog post on food). The restaurant only serves chorrillana and beer and the walls are covered in signatures, notes, photos, and strange collections. We left our own note on a greasy napkin and signed it “Club de Comilones.”

We napped at our amazing hostel until 10pm then ate empanadas, drank pisco, and went out to El Huevo (the egg) club. Thanks to the advice of a friend we almost asked for directions to “El Huevón” which would not have gone over well. Huevón, depending on how you use it, means asshole. So, we were about to ask, “¿Dónde está el huevón?” Or, “Where’s the asshole?” The club had 5 floors and had the mandatory reggaeton floor, along with an American music floor, salsa floor, and rooftop dance and chill floor. It was an awesome club apart from the fact that 90% of the guys were short.

Sunday we took a bus to Reñaca, a seaside town north of Valpo. We found a section of coastline that is dominated by sand dunes and spent the afternoon picnicking, running around, and taking silly pictures.

It would have been too perfect of a weekend if Becca, Katy, and Anna hadn’t all been robbed on the way back to Santiago.