Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Vino con vistas lindas en Valparaíso

One can literally describe Valparaíso as a city on the edge.

Ascensores (elevators) transport visitors and residents alike from el Plan into the colorful neighborhoods that precariously cling to Valpo´s steep hillsides. Murals along Calle Templeman in Cerro Alegre capture snapshots of daily life, while dogs and even the occasional cat in heat bask under the sun along the steep cobblestone streets. Colorful façades and tile and tin rooftops dominate the ondulating landscape. The one constant, however, is the sweeping vistas of Viña del Mar and the Pacific Ocean that literally appear at every turn.

Café Turri on Calle Templeton is the perfect vantage point at where one can appreciate the view over congrio (a local species of eel), machas a la parmesana (razor clams with Parmesan cheese), ensalada chilena (salad with peeled tomatoes and thinly sliced onions with a pinch of salt) and sopa marisca (soup with shellfish.) A bottle of locally produced wine is the perfect compliment to this lunch overlooking the azure Pacific Ocean on a beautiful (and smog free) afternoon along the Chilean coast.

¡Buen provecho!

No comments: