November 30, 2013
Seeing it today, it is hard to believe that Valparaiso,
Chile used to be the major port of call for ships sailing between the Atlantic
and Pacific in the second half of the 19th century. The port
provided many of the supplies for the California Gold Rush, but sustained major
damage with a devastating earthquake in 1906. Valparaiso’s “Golden Age’ ended
in 1914 with the opening of the Panama Canal. In 2003, however, the center of
the city was declared a World Heritage site, and the city is undergoing a
rebirth of sorts.
Old buildings are
being restored, museums are opening, and cheerful paint colors are being
applied.
It is still gritty, though, and did not feel that safe. After visiting
the Pablo Neruda house we went to a fantastic restaurant called “Portofino”
recommended by a friend of Elliott’s.
The photo below shows the octopus in lemon
sauce that was to die for!
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