Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Annals of transportation (1)... the elevators of Valparaiso

The town of Valparaiso is split up between the port-side quarters and the uphill town. In the time of horse drawn carriages, the steep slopes were difficult to master. After 1883, a number of elevators were built to transport people and goods uphill
Motorized transport made the elevators all but obsolete. About a dozen are left, but although they are part of the UNESCO monument of the old town of Valparaiso, not all of them are in working order
Whereas some are tourist attractions and frequently used, others are in quarters where people in the streets warn you not to go
Rusty corrugated iron houses where the elevator and graffiti are the only spots of colour
Hill-side entrance
The lady will take your coins and charge the slit to operate the turnstyle
A view not unlike a ship - operator in his navigating bridge
How long still?

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