Valparaíso is a messy port city in central Chile, just an hour and a half bus ride from Santiago
Home to seven universities, at first glance Valparaiso looks like a color Latin American town
But its hills house one of the most intriguing collections of street art in the world
Street art is visible from nearly everywhere, and takes on as many styles as there are artists
Valparaíso is also famous for its annual downhill urban mountain bike race. Search for it on YouTube: it's crazy. This food delivery pedaler earned his tip.
Homage to the mountain bike race
Perhaps this best captures the insanity of the race
What really sets Valparaiso apart is the quantity (and quality) of commissioned street art
Stores often hire artists to decorate and advertise their offerings, using the same materials and techniques as graffiti artists
The result is an exuberant and colorful mishmash of decorated walls and sidewalks
I'll leave it up to you to soak in an appreciate the few examples I've captured here
