Valparaíso, Chile

 Valparaíso, founded in 1536,  flourished as an important South Pacific seaport during the 19th century.  During its golden era, many European immigrants arrived, made their fortunes and left their mark on the city's architecture and cultural institutions.  

Built on 45 hills, it is often compared to San Francisco.  With a population of about 1 million,  it is Chile's 2nd largest city.  Diminished maritime traffic (after the opening of the Panama Canal) severely hurt its economy during the twentieth century causing many wealthy families to abandoned the city.

Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, the city's economy has been improving.  Artists and cultural entrepreneurs have moved into the city's hillside historic districts resulting in a flourishing  tourist industry.   

Street art is everywhere.  Some of it very good but much of it just annoying graffiti.

With no animal control ordinances, street dogs are everywhere.  They may be homeless, but they are all well feed and well behaved.  The biggest problem; without owners to look after them, watch where you step!

Because of the city's many hills, funiculars are located throughout the city.  Rather than walking up several hundred steps, we boarded one to visit Palacio Baburizza.

Palacio Baburizza was built by one of the most important families of Valparaíso, the Zanelli family. It was purchased in 1925 by Pascual Baburizza, a Croatian business man that made his fortune in saltpeter mining.  A  lifelong bachelor, he collected original paintings and supported many philanthropic endeavors in Valparaíso.

In 1971 Palacio Baburizza was purchased by the local government and today is the Valparaíso museum of arts.  Much of Baburizza's art collection is on display.  Here are a few.  

We boarded a coach and journeyed to Viña del Mar, Valparaíso's upscale resort.  

While in Viña del Mar, we visited the Fonck Museum housing exhibits from the Easter Islands.

On day two, Gene visited rural Chile.  His first stop was a vineyard and winery.

At 10:30 in the morning, Gene was tasting some of Chile's best wines.  (By 10:35 he was "light headed")

Most of his fellow travelers were attentively listening to the presentation  and enjoying the wine.  Notice however the woman on the left busily texting.   

Next stop was Puro Caballo for an introduction to the Chilean "huaso" - the traditional Chilean horseman similar to an American cowboy.  First, a traditional folk dance.

Then the horsemanship.

A little more tradition - the dance of the chicken and rooster.  Can you guess which is which?

And finally some precision riding.