I have blogged before about people’s views, and in fact have thought of doing a series on nothing more than the views from my friend’s houses. I love seeing the city (any city) from above, and I believe that what you see on a daily basis affects how you feel. When I see these grand sweeping views (or closed in, buildings-look-like-dominoes views) from my friends’ windows and balconies and rooftop gardens, I wonder sometimes (just for a minute, don’t worry), what it would be like to live there. Would it change my mood, my day, my sleep, to know that all that was lying outside my window?
I recently spent the weekend in Valparaíso for a crazy, sick, twisted, bike race that anyone who loves a downhill cyclist would cry to look at. More on that later. In order to get there for the morning wakeup, I spent the night before at a friend’s house, up on Cerro Polanco, one of the hills of Valparaíso which still has a functioning elevator (in fact, it is truly an elevator, you must walk a few hundred feet into the cerro before getting in what looks like a tiny performance space for a garage band). Cerro Polanco doesn’t hold much interest for the average tourist, with the exception of my friend’s house, and in general, I wouldn’t suggest wandering around the untouristed cerros for no reason other than whipping out your fancy camera. Because in the end, you may not be the person walking off the cerro with your fancy camera. But I digress.
Up on Cerro Polanco, in addition to the great nibbles and a house that almost defies description and which I think will be frigid-beyond-cold-chilblain-cold in winter, I had a chance to peep at and take pictures of this view:
No need (and impossible) to shoot around the electrical lines that slash through the city.
Natural light fades and electric lights twinkle on in the view from Cerro Polanco.
My clear winner for the yellows and blues. And a small ode to my camera and really high ISO settings.
Cover your windows everyone. I’m coming for your view next.
………….
Edited to add a link to the insane downhill bike competition photo essay on MatadorSports.
I have a pretty sweet view of the sunset which you’re welcome to shoot any time!
wheee! And I’ve never even seen Lola in her natural habitat! You name the time and I’ll bring the chips (or something)!
Las fotos están preciosas… impresiona como la ciudad se sube al cerro, casi como el oleaje en las rocas de la playa…
Y a propósito de nada, como sé que este tipo de cosas te gustan, te dejo un video que anda circulando en youtube… a lo mejor ya lo viste, pero me dio mucha risa…
Gracias por lo de las fotos. Valparaíso me va ganando, después de tantos años en Chile! Y lo del video, sí lo ví, y es notable. De hecho, publiqué una nota en MatadorNetwork (uno de tantas pegas, soy editora allá). Gracias por comentar!
I have a pretty sweet view of Valpo hills too, and it definitely changes my mood/outlook in some way. I love looking out the window, even though our angels/setup could be better, I probably spend at least a few moments each day just looking out the window. It’s peaceful.
On the other hand, my bedroom window looks out to the street in front of us (passerbys, neighbors)… and I have literally only opened the window ONCE (to clean it… yeah yeah, don’t judge that because I’ve only cleaned it once in the years I’ve lived here). I even put two layers of that plastic window cover stuff over it so it cant be looked out/in. Before that was on, I have one memory of looking out the window in the middle of the night, police caught and beat up and arrested a criminal right outside. My bedroom window stresses me out. I dont like to look out, I don’t want anyone to look in, or worse break in.
This contrast between the two makes me sure that the answer to your question is that yes, a different view does change your mood, day, sleep.
pucha Lydia, what a bummer about your window! I have realized that for as long as I live in a city in Chile, I will try to live higher than eye-view for exactly this reason. Not judging the cleaning though, not at all! Also, I want to come see your view sometime!
I love my view too. Pura Cordillera, fuels my resistance to changing apartments.
Just so everyone knows, I consider this an invitation to come and take pics out your window!
Nice! And love the “my friend’s view” idea too! You’re welcome to come shoot my view of the “jardin” whenever you like!
Whee. I’ll wait til you’re back in town. Otherwise it’s just weird.