A Magical Place

I sat next to a hedgehog on the bus.

Well okay, not next to him. He was across the aisle, but in the same row. It was the first time I had ever seen a hedgehog use public transportation. Drew and I were on our way to Valparaiso, a port town a few hours out of Santiago. This was when I decided that Valparaiso must be a magical place. I asked the hedgehog about this, but he didn't answer. He just curled up in a little ball and went to sleep.

When we got to Valparaiso we said goodbye to the hedgehog and climbed off the bus. We walked out of the bus station, turned to the right, and was greeted by a horse wearing a hat. I had never seen a horse in a hat, but there was one now. I was so shocked that I couldn't even get a picture before he and his owner walked on down the road.

Valparaiso is often compared to San Fransisco, but I don't really see it. Admittedly, both towns have fog, hills, and highways that look perilously close to collapse, but that's about it. Valparaiso is a little closer to Oakland, just without the Raiders.


You might think that I didn't like Valparaiso, but you would be wrong. It was one of the most fun towns we have visited. Santiago is a comfortable town that works. Valparaiso works despite its best efforts. It is full of graffiti, but most of it is better than must public art I have seen. The sidewalks are broken, but somehow they keep their 150 year old funiculars operating.

It is just an odd town where everyone does their own thing. For example, while we were walking down the street a bus pulled up. A man got out and opened up the cargo hold. Inside was a small child, stretched out on a mattress and blankets. He didn't seem at all phased to be sleeping the hold of a bus.

While we were there Valparaiso was hosting a citywide performing arts festival. The entire bit was centered around shipping containers from the local port. Shakespeare in a box! Containers were turned into galleries, stages, and seating areas.


We thought it was brilliant. Anyway, this will be the last post for a few days. Drew and I are off to Easter Island and will not be back until late next week. Enjoy the holidays!