On our way north we spent a few days in this small harbour city which nicely sits upon several hills, smothered with houses.

Until the Panama Canal was opened, Valparaíso was an important port on the water way between Europe and Asia, since then things have rather turned for the worse. An especially prominent example of this is a decayed hotel almost on the town square which was set to be opened in 1918, but in 1914 the Panama Canal was opened.

Italian immigrants brought the idea of cable cars from Europe and so there are a numerous ?URoeascensadors?UR? that spares you from climbing the many stairs up the hills. Theoretically. Due to the upcoming elections, almost the entire public service went on strike.

Also Pablo Neruda had a very nice house with a perfect view from almost every room over the city and its port. It is believed that this was his most favourite house, we concur.

Our next stop: Elqui-Valley: center of the Chilean Pisco production and seventh heaven for astronomers.