Valparaíso Walks Blog

Purchase last minute tickets at our tour meeting points!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Valparaiso Walks) — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Back by popular demand guests can now pay (cash only) in person for "El Valpo Walk" English-guided Walking Tours prior to tour starting times. All last minute ticket purchases can be made with cash only and in Chilean pesos. Please review "Payment" under "Tour Details" for current adult and child admission prices. Just show up at the tour's designated meeting point a few minutes early and provided the tour is not sold out you'll be able to make your payment to the tour guide and join.

Purchase Tickets online!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Valparaiso Walks) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Please be advised that all tickets can be purchased online via our respective tour pages. Also, notice that ticket sales end at 7:30pm the day before the event.

Spring Cleaning in Chile

noreply@blogger.com (Valparaiso Walks) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:06:00 +0000

So, in case you haven't noticed we're doing a little updating and "spring cleaning" on the o'l website in preparation for the up-and-coming summer season. And we want all you happy travellers coming our way to know that we're not just sitting around drinking cervezas and eating empanadas, no sir. And who said a couple of hot mushroom and cheese empanadas chased with a cold IPA was bad for you anyway?!... Well, while spending all this time online I dug up this video just for all you office stiffs bored &%!!less. Cheers!

Chilean shopping in Valparaiso.

noreply@blogger.com (Emilie Toresson Grip) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +0000

Regardless whether you´re shopping in Valparaiso to find presents for your parents or to treat yourself to a piece of Chilean art to ship back home, you'll find it here. And if you don't guard your travel budget, even the things you never thought you needed.

Although tourism in Valpo still is a baby buisness in terms of years (the bohemian boom came with the explosion of visitors in the 90s), Valpo is already flooded with handcraft shops. At least in the most arty-bohemian, as well as the most touristy cerro - Cerro Alegre/Concepcion.

There is one place that combines various styles of handcraft shops together, with more than a passing resemblance to an art gallery. On the corner of the streets Urriola and Templeman is where "Casa Viejo" is situated and inside await four independently artesenal galleries, with a few products in common but still with distinct differences.

To the left, when you walk in you will find a small shop of four artists: Leonardo Alvarez, Hilda Osses, Astrid Ziniga and Karin Ouiroga. Karin tells me that they all offer different products, She vends the clothes while they also sell glass, leather and woven curiosities. This is "Artesano del Cerro" and they started up in November 2008.

"You can find handcrafts all around this cerro nowadays, but what we sell is not to be found anywhere else", Karin says."Usually handcraft artists sell their things to several shops to increase their chances of purchases, but this also leads to a similarity between the shops. We don´t do this, we just sell our own products here. We can honestly say that everything we sell here is unique",she continues.

At this time during low season they are entertaining, amongst others, customers from France and Brasil, as foreigners make up the largest group of clientele. This changes. during "ferias", the public holidays, when lots of Chileans come from Santiago to Valparaiso and into their shop.

The next shop, after "Artesenal del Cerro", is also to the left. Here you'll find even more glass,items made by Guddrumm Santos. Unsurprisingly the name of this shop is Vidrio del Cerro.

When moving on you´ll find the next shop on your right. It´s kind of hard to avoid the focus in this slightly bigger shop - the room is full, from floor to roof, with knitted clothes. Even a piano is covered with knitted cardigans. The maker, as well as the salesmen, (or in this case the saleswoman) is also the owner of Casa Viejo, from which the other handcraft makers rent their space. She´s had this place for five years. Whatever you could imagine knitted, she´s got it, and her cardigans range from 10 to 20 mil (thousand) pesos,around 18 to 36 dollars.

Last is the tiny artesenal shop beyond the other three. But size isn't everything. This offers the greatest alternative compared to the others as they have a focus on natural cosmetics. Their shampoo, conditioner, oils, soap and make-up is all made in Chile and the saleswoman Suzanna informs me they also offer aromatherapy.

The corridor between these artesenal shops usually has its walls covered with paintings, something you´ll probably see on your way out if you don't notice it before. Maybe, if you're lucky and have a sunny day in Valpo,you'll see shafts of sunlight come through the windows that form one side of the corridor.

This is the equally beautiful interior behind the colourful exterior of Valparaiso.

/Emilie.

Ciclo de Cine film nights

noreply@blogger.com (Jon Greer) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 16:34:00 +0000

Ciclo de Cine
580 Urriola, Cerro Alegre
Friday nights from 20.00hrs

Free cinema nights are getting common in these parts, but none offer such affection for the civic history and filmmakers of Valparaiso as Ciclo de Cine. The colectivo artistico ciudad puerto have been at it for over a month now, with their Friday night open invitation gathering popularity. The theme is simple and successful: showcase films made in and about Valparaiso from the last 50 years and bookend the evening with an introduction and post film discussion. Hosted by Simone and Pilar in their house in Cerro Alegre, you can get swallowed up in one of the huge black sofas or for the more robust amongst you pull up a wooden stool, to watch the screening in the living room. From the first week in June the offerings have spanned subject matter from circuses to port cermonies to disillusioned priests. And multiple images of ascensors doing what they do best. Best of all the daily life in Valpo is given a colour to match the buildings. Anyone interested in the recent history can glean a lot from the style of porteno pelicula as the evolution of the city is recorded in film. Ya No Basta Con Rezar gave voice to rebellion within the church and underlying dissatisfaction in society, while Belgian director Jons Ivenz's A Valparaiso was a loving ode to the city in cod documentary fashion. Usual suspects include local director Aldo Francia, whose films have provided the entertainment on two evenings. Commentary comes from film officienado Silvio Cuneo and Simone. As the collective continue in the same vein through July, it’s worth paying a visit, stock up on some navigador, hot wine with naranja, and let the film reel uncover more about the people and passion within Valparaiso in recent times.

Jon :o

Barhopping? Clubbing? Chilean pubs?

noreply@blogger.com (Emilie Toresson Grip) — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 22:11:00 +0000

...Whatever you are looking for when heading for a night out in Valpo, you probably won´t be dissapointed. Though, it is recommended, if you´re looking for some sweaty dancing until dawn, then head out between Thursday and Saturday. That is when the biggest clubs are open by the seafront aswell as in the oldest part of Valparaiso, Barrio Puerto.
If you´re looking for some hip bars or old school-chilean-port-pubs as well as live music, you can pretty much find it everyday in the week.

The following is a shortlist of some of our favourite bars and clubs:

Blondie - an 80s club with two dancefloors. The biggest one plays an eclectic mix of 80s pop, while the one upstairs usully has a focus on danceable britpop. Two bars serve the drinks, and they do it to a good mix of gringos and porteños, old and young, heteros and homos - all of them always up for a good night out in Barrio Puerto.
Adress: Blanco 564, very close to Plaza Sotomayor and the port.

La Piedra Feliz (subterraneo) - Club La Sala, a club with three rooms and a wider variation of music. Some find it more mainstream than Blondie, others find it just more danceable. The smallest room usually plays Chilean/Spanish salsa or merengue, other times they have a RnB dj giving you a good time. In the second largest room you´ll find some reggae or drum n bass and in the biggest room, as well as having the biggest bar of two, your body moves will have to adjust to a mix of modern dance hits, light techno and a few 80s and 90s hits.
Address: Av. Errazuriz 1054, facing the ocean!

Bar Canaria - One of the oldest places to house a bar in Valparaiso, as well as being one of, or maybe, THE smallest bar to be found. A small collection of wooden tables and chairs can be reorganised due to the clients wish, most of them drinking beer or, what VW crew strongly recommend, vino con frutilla, red wine mixed with strawberries! Sometimes you´ll be entertained for a couple of minutes by some actors or musicians strolling by, indulging in some micro theatre or carrying a guitar or an accordian with them, popping in to play some chilean songs. The little "shoe box" is covered with old posters and newspaper, and from the ceiling hangs an empty canary cage, with the little door open. The canary flew away and was painted big and yellow on the outside of the bar instead...
Address: corner of Av. Cumming and Av.Elias, 150 m up from Plaza Anibal Pinto.

La Playa - An old, classic bar for real Porteños, sailers and curious gringos. One long bar invites you to sit against it and to have a look at all the bottles of liquor and beer, black and white posters of moviestars and artists from the 50s, 60s and 70s, sculptures, mirrors and just odd, but still very much fitting, items of the curious, making the wall behind the bar very enjoyable. If you want to have look at it with some distance - have a seat by one of many tables.
Like your afternoon beer? This is the place to go to then.
Address: Cochrane 568, the parallel street to Blanco, where Blondie is situated. Very close to Plaza Sotomayor and the port.

Bar Pajarito - One of the hippest bars in Valparaiso, is also one of the oldest watering holes in the city. Choose between tables, a sofa corner, a high table with matching high chairs or along the bar. No matter where you sit you´ll be able to see the small exhibition of paintings or photos that adorn one of the walls.
Address: Salvador Donoso 1433, the parallel street to the main shopping street Condell.

So, out and dance with you! Drink and enjoy the Valpo night! And don´t forget to cast an eye over her night gown- the illuminated cerros competing with the stars of the night sky above....

/Emilie.

Valparaíso Walks NEW CALENDAR PAGE!

noreply@blogger.com (Valparaiso Walks) — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 01:47:00 +0000

VW is working overtime to share all good things Valparaíso. Check out the following listing and other future and on-going local events on our new calendar page titled "Valparaiso Essential Events":

Live Music
Ex. Christianes lead singer "Evelyn Fuentes" brings her sweet vocals to the "Rincon Bolivariano" located in Barrio Del Puerto on July 16th. She'll be performing songs from her latest CD titled "Sin Culpa." Tickets are only $1500 clp each for this seasoned singer songwriter. See our event calendar for more details.
Cheers!
Bobby

On the road- a Saturday excursion.

noreply@blogger.com (Emilie Toresson Grip) — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:40:00 +0000

How boring life would be if everything was easy. So why take the bus between Santiago and Valparaiso when you can ride a bike?

105 kilometers waited to be explored and enjoyed. After 8 hours we had appreciated the route in a few other ways as well.

So, when 7 monster mountainbikes and 2 rolling doubts had gathered in the light of a Saturday morning in Santiago, we were ready to go. As bikers and walkers are not allowed to pass through the tunnels around the Andes, the first part didn't last longer than a couple of km before we got picked up by a car which drove us through tunnel lo Prado.

We repeated this once more through tunnel Zapato but not after a good ten more kilometres.By then we´ve been gliding down the first long downhill that faded out in a flat landscape with German houses and, I guess, Chilean horses all along a small road. A super serious athletic gang of 50 pro bikes passed us, and one of our monsterbikes in the group got so nervous that a tyre gave up, with a little help from a nail in the road. The new tube was soon replaced and pumped though and nine bikes made it to our first longer break in the small village Curacavi.

After some partaking of fast carbo we hit the road again.

The landscape changed and soon it we were presented with the first uphill challenge. Fortunately it was time for a new tunnel pick-up afterwards and the few who still struggled with the steep road got help to catch up with those who already completed the uphill mission.

Both Jon and I had a bikeriding past behind our reasons for joining the trip, though in different ways. With a history as a down-hill mountainbike rider, Jon longed for inclined adventure, while I am more of a fan of the exploring possibilities when riding a bike. To be able to literally feel the road you are riding, to smell the difference between the landscapes you are passing through and letting the route sound, sing and speak for itself with no other sonics that interrupt beside your own breathing. As well to be able to feel every single bump in your butt, let the hard wind tear at your eyes, to be able to smell the horse surprises you are weaving through and get a route soundtrack consisting of HGVs passing by.

Another landscape awaited us after another a long downhill, we passed a few quite good looking fields in different colours as well as wine yards as we kept going for a good ten or twenty more km.

Boredom was far from our minds, the road still wanted us to be entertained and soon we were about to handle another steep mission, uphill. We were treated well, having a broad view of the valley we had just passed through, when finally reaching the top. The fields and vineyards posed well in the golden light of the sun under a clear blue sky.

50, 60 and 70 km was consumed, as well as a second tube and three bike chains, when it was time to take another stop by Iglesia lo Vasques.

Every year, in November, a couple of thousand people from Santiago and Valparaiso walk from each city to this church, to pray to the saint. The road gets completely shut down for a day. While thinking of this and being grateful even for the two rolling doubts among our nine bikes we were served breads and eggs in front of the church and soon we hit the road, again, with the last part ahead us.

The group spread out over a couple of kilometers, but we all passed the Dino park, with their plastic dinosaurs almost in natural sizes and soon we just had 10 kilometres to go.

The sun was on its way down, people were heading home, as we amassed together with a few cars we rolled down and in to Valparaiso just before five o'clock.

It was a trip that contained experiences valuable and varied. But every single one of them was worth celebrating with a Chilean asado, BBQ, which welcomed the nine of us when finally reaching our Valparaiso. And Valparaiso welcomed us in it´s own way when shining in silver and metallic in a light carefully wrapped in delicate clouds; the hills winked with eye catching diamonds when a few windows reflected the light. A few moments later as the sun sunk even more, we found ourselves cycling in the spotlight of pink and purple light through the busy streets of a Saturday evening in our beloved Valpo.

Take care past and future Valparaiso walkers.

/Emilie.

VW no longer walking solo!

noreply@blogger.com (Valparaiso Walks) — Mon, 18 May 2009 16:57:00 +0000

I want to send out a huge-deep-heartfelt thanks to all you past walkers who joined me on the "El Valpo Walk" walking tour over the last 5 months. I'm baffled at how many wonderful folks from all over the planet I've had the pleasure to meet and share this wonderful stroll along the hills of the wickedly unique city of Valparaíso. The day has arrived for me to share this lovely opportunity with two fresh faces who have decided to help me form the Valparaíso Walks team. I have the pleasure to proudly introduce to you "Emilie Toresson Grip" from Sweden and "Jon Greer" from England. They'll be sharing their love for this wonderful place that we currently call home through our original tours, online forum and our blog. Without further ado meet from L to R Emilie and Jon:

I have to include I was a little hesitant posting their introduction until we got through the weekend as they left me walking on egg shells all Saturday waiting for them to return from "En Cleta Pal Puerto II" which is a 100k group bike ride starting in Santiago finishing up in Valparaíso. Thankfully they made it safe and sound. Enjoy their photos below and more on our photo page:

Cheers!

Bobby

Welcome to The VW Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Valparaiso Walks) — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:24:00 +0000

Welcome to the "Valparaíso Walks" new website and "The VW Blog" where we'll be sharing all things Valparaíso including photos, interviews of local artist, event announcements and introduce you to our brand new team members...

Also, as our website grows and develops we'll share with you all the new features and really anything we think you shouldn't miss out on.

So for now, hello and welcome! Come back soon! Salud

Bobby