Hostal Mariposa, Valparaiso Chile

When I arrived in Valparaiso, I it was an extermely hot day and though I was glad to escape the stagnant heat of Santiago, the ocean breeze didn't do much for me.  My backpack easily weighs 50 pounds, and all the stress of a foreign bus system and lugging around my bags was causing me to sweat beyond belief.  Even before going to Valparaiso, I had learned that many consider it to be the San Francisco of South America - and today, a local described it as the "poor brother of San Francisco."  The similarities are very clear - it is a heavy industrial port, full with cargo docks and anchored ships, a lot of very steep hills (there are around 15 "acensors," similar to european funiculars), and there is a lot of street art on every corner. 
The hostel itself is situated on a hill with 200 degree views of the city, which in itself is reason enough to stay in the hostel and avoid walking up hills!  The hostel owner comes from Alaska, and is married to a Chilean woman - together they have probably 25 rooms available which have all been uniquely renovated and cater to students for all but the summer tourist months.  Kent (that's his name) is a very unique man and is very friendly and helpful to all of the guests on a constant basis.  He has planted a seed in my head and is urging me to rent space in a warehouse his friends own, fill a cargo container with Chilean wine, and find a buyer in the States.  We will have to see about that but it could prove to be a lucrative business to begin!  This hostel has been much more of a social experience than the last, and I am planning to extend my inital reservation by at least a day. 
Yesterday in Valparaiso at about 2pm, a fire broke out in the forest leading into the city, and was pouring smoke into the air until nightfall.  With over 200 families displaced and a great deal of forest gone, the devastation was enormous, and it was quite a spectacle to watch it from our balcony and see the constant flow of helicopters dumping water on the fire.  The fire strained the local water supply and was on the minds of everyone from valparaiso. 
My time here in Valpo has been great - I think much better than Santiago - and my time here has yet to come to an end.  I think I will be back before long!

Chech out the photos of the view from the balcony and also the smoke rising over the city during the fire!