Sunny Day in Valparaiso

Our hostel neighbors at La Casa Verde Limon this morning at breakfast included a young Chinese student from Toronto with many interesting tidbits to share about her family's exile from China, a young woman from Belgium, and a couple from Australia who have spent the last 5 months on the road.
We started our day traveling steeply up one of Valparaiso's 43 hills on una acensador, a little outdoor elevator built right in the rock up the side of a hill. What a handy invention from the late 1800's!




At the top of the hill directly behind our hostel there are colorfully painted homes founded by English, German, Swiss immigrants early in the last century. Many are converted into cafes, galleries and B & Bs. The views of the ocean from the top of the hill is beautiful. We went up and down both in the morning & as the sun went down.



Today we happened upon music in two different locations & attended a Mexican Folkloric Dance presentation in the civic center, I guess it was our cultural day. Our first music gathering was meant for artistic conference goers in a small museum. We watched three separate musicians, mostly singer/songwriter types with guitars. It was cool to be sitting among the Press! Nobody questioned our appearance, we must have looked like someone.




In the 'heart park' across the street from the hostel a four piece rock-n-roll band had set up to entertain the volunteers working on the mosaic tile work in the late afternoon. I sat on our steps and listened while I finished another book, my 4th this week.
We also took a boat tour of the harbor and ate a 'daily menu special', fresh fish, at a local eatery.
All and all it was a nice, relaxing day in the sunshine loving life & each other.