The last three days were spent along the coastline of northern Chile as we slowly made our way down from Iquique. Along the way we camped a couple times along some of the many rocky bluffs, watched sea lions lounging on the rocks, pelicans skimming the ocean, and big barreling closeout waves pounding the shoreline. Now we are having a layover in the town of Antofagasta today before catching our 18-hour bus down to Santiago tomorrow.
Although the first impression of Antofagasta is not particularly flattering, now that we’ve been forced to spend a day wandering around here it seems like a city that is trying hard to provide entertainment and culture – with its beaches, plazas, pedestrian malls, movie theaters, and the obligatory public outdoor gyms. Nevertheless, we are excited to escape northern Chile and return to greener places! Our next stop is Santiago with a mission to find the mountaineering store there to replace some of our stolen equipment, then down to the mountains in the Chillan area to hopefully climb a volcano and find some more remote hot springs!
wow! it looks great! have a nice trip!
UPDATE: While we were in a movie theater today (waiting for our bus this evening) we felt a minor earthquake! The seats shook gently, and the movie was not even interrupted. Super minor. I just read on the news that it was a 5.1 magnitude earthquake! So I just wanted to let you all know that we are ok…
one foot of light and dry in town…..
Sweet!!!
I have passed through Antofagasta on my way to Paranal. It’s an interesting place. Very dusty :).