2025 Oct 7: Vlpo tour, La Sebastiana

Another beautiful day, we did a walking tour - the 'offbeat' tour by https://tours4tips.com/es/valparaiso-tours/. It was good. It actually started through Barrio Puerto, which I posted about yesterday - didn't take more pics. The guide fenagled the key to the rooftop of the market, had some nice views from up there. Highlight: we took one of the local city jitney busses up into the hills. Mr Toad's wild ride. The dock workers were striking for better pay & conditions, we skirted their march. Our guide said they didn't have a lot of local support because they get a bonus if they strike so they strike often, and don't generally support strikes by other workers in the city. There was burning of tires - a mess. Another highlight was an ex-prison used by the Pinochet dictatorship to house dissidents during his time, converted to a public venue & museum. Lots of concrete:

Strolled home for a break. A container ship had come in the previous day, caught it leaving from our window. This is the second we've seen, they seem to pass through at the rate of two per week. Discovered Cafe Morada, right at the end of our street. Good coffee, nice folk:

Then we walked up the hill to La Sebastiana, Museo de Pablo Neruda, his Valparaiso home. The poem reads

'Ode to the cat

but the cat

wants to be

only a cat

and every cat

is a cat

from whisker

to tail

Pablo Neruda':

...and back through Cerro Monjas, Cerro La Cruz and Plaza O'Higgins (who's in charge here?):

Back up to Cerro Alegre & home. The steps read 'One should take care of those matters that produce enthusiasm and joy, and not waste valuable time creating doubts about all the big and small things'; there are still some of these around: