I am in Valparaíso and it is wonderful. Everywhere else I have been in Chile has been interesting, and Valdivia has the best fish market I have ever seen, but Valparaíso ROCKS, and it is beautiful. Evidence of its ultra-hip culture can be observed here.
Later, I will translate this poem by Gonzalo Rojas, on Valparaíso.
PUERTO PERDIDO
Todo es estrecho y hondo
en este suelo ingrávido, las flores
crecen sobre cuchillos, boca abajo en la arena
puede oírse un volcán; cuando la lluvia
la moja, se despeja
la incógnita, aparece
una silla fantástica en el cielo,
y allí sentado el Dios de los relámpagos
como un monte de nieve envejecido.
Todo es estrecho y hondo, las personas
no dejan huellas porque el viento
las arroja a su norte y su vacío,
de manera
que de improviso
yo salgo a mi balcón y ya no veo a nadie,
no veo casas ni mujeres rubias,
han desaparecido los jardines,
todo es arena invulnerable, todo
era ilusión, no hubo
sobre esta orilla del planeta nadie
antes que el viento.
Entonces corro hasta las olas, me hundo
en su beso, los pájaros
hacen un sol encima de mi frente,
entonces tomo posesión del aire
y de las rocas temporales
en el nombre del viento, las estrellas azules,
Valparaíso, el viento.
Axé.
coldhearted scientist وداد 
Amo Chile es un gran país, viví en Valpo un año.
Gran país.
I wished I would have kept in touch with my old lover Jorge Campos-Recio (I think that is the second part of the sir name). He loved Chile so much and I’m sure would be fun as an ambassador.
When is this holiday ending? So I can feel that you are closer and more in touch, whether that is true or not. HAH!
What do you mean you have no pictures? Are you saying you did not take a camera with you, or that you are keeping them to yourself. If it is the latter I understand, I am like that. If it is the former, I understand too, sometimes I don’t want to be stuck looking at it through a lens, I want to imprint it in my brain directly and savor it.
I spent a few days in Valpo and it wasn’t my favorite city. I loved Valdivia tthough, I’m more of a surena I guess
Reading this poem takes my mind far away. How lucky you are to be traveling! Enjoy the food, the sounds, the smells, and have a very happy, peaceful new year!
Happy New Year to you too, Melissa! Yes, I love to travel.
Maegan la Mala – yes, Valdivia is nice, but I seem to be less of a surenia than many. Valdivia is as far south as Oregon is north, too close to the Pole for Mediterranean me!
Moksha – I’m back. No pictures because I wanted to imprint directly to the brain.
IxcheL, !gracias por la visita! I’d love to spend a year in Valpo. Chile, nice country, yes, but my favorite country is still Mexico!