Arica
02.05.2013 - 02.07.2013
83 °F
View
South America
on solorooster's travel map.
Now I really feel like I am in Chile. The port and border town in Chile was one of those places that kept me here awhile despite my growing itch to get down to Patagonia before it gets too cold down there. I have definately started to learn lessons of going with the flow which can be hard for this type A former it/engineer type. Since Monday, I have been wanting to both enjoy it here and get the plans for the next leg squared away. However, there were other things to do and so the next step did not get settled until today.
After a rough start to Chile Monday night, we stayed in a more off the path hostel, Tuesday morning we found a home at Sunny days, next to the "superagro" market and a short walk to the beach. It was a much nicer hostel with a fun vibe.
The superagro is an awesome place to buy food cheap. A whole cooked chicked is $6, eggs $.20 each, so here I have been able to augment my continental breakfast with eggs and salami.
I went to the beach for the first time in many years. It is usually not my thing but it hit the spot resting the bum ankle.
After some errands, like washing and drying clothes, A few friends and I actually made a BBQ and all of us hung out until late enjoying it in the patio.
I met people from Germany, Quebec, and Poland. A cool way of BBQing peppers is to cut in half crack an egg inside and add cheese on top.
Yesterday was equally cool and unwound into a long day hanging out with a buch of people. Me and my friend from Canada hung out with some women from Santiago checking out El Morro, Las cuavas, and eating at a seafood place on the docks.
Statue on top of El Morro
Central Square
My first ceviche in South America
Pelicans and the seaport
Las Cuevas
Laucho Beach
Sunset!
Later on we got some ice cream and watched to sunset on a different beach and then had dinner, I had a rediculous $6 burger/sandwich thing that looked like you'd win a prize if you could finish it. I ate all the meat but the tomoatoes, lettuce, and bun were too much!
The burger!
With many of the people from yesterday gone to places like Inquique and LaPaz, today is a more relaxing/planning/blogging day but I did get to the central square.
The aduana building designed by Eiffel
There are a few new people from the US here now. I am not using my Spanish a lot although tomorrow is my first Spanish language tour of the trip.
My impressions of Chile are that is is much more laid back than Peru. It is very comfortable here and at times feels like North America. Everyone says Chile is expensive but Arica is among the cheaper places in Chile and recommended for surfer and beach types.
Admin note - the video for the condor now works in the Colca Canyon post.
Posted by solorooster 02.07.2013 11:52 Archived in Chile
Hey Rooster
This sure looks more appealing - Chile is beautiful!! So glad you are having a great experience! Darn! You are going to miss one of the largest Nor'easters we have had in decades!! Aren't you sad? LOL!!!!
02.07.2013 by LLang