Blogs from Arica, Arica & Parinacota, Chile, South America - page 13

. Chile In the last two years I´ve crossed about two dozen borders but this is the first new country I´ve visited in that time. Same time zone as Toronto and New York even though its on South America's west coast. Not ¨Chillie¨ but ¨Chee-lay¨ unless you want people down here to put that puzzled look on their face that means - ¨What´s this gringo trying to say?¨ Crossing the border is an ordeal. Lot´s of banned items like fruit, vegetables, milk and cocaine.They x-ray all baggage. The border guards have those fur hats with ear flaps that gives them that intimidating Russian-border-guard look and seems to give them that old bureaucratic attitude. Even travelling within the country from state to state, the luggage searches are more intense than most other international border searches. Apparently its ... read more

Lonely Planet has summarized that “the most lasting impressions you’ll take away of Chileans is undoubtedly of their renowned hospitality, helpfulness, genuine curiosity and heartfelt eagerness to make travelers feel at home”, maybe this does not apply to Arica….. I have had the opportunity to visit this northern most city of Chile during the Semana Santa weekend. It’s a port city and also a stopover for tourists who are border crossing to Peru. Arica is quite a nice place to spend a weekend despites those unfriendly locals and tasteless food. El Morro de Arica, the commercial area at 21 Mayo Street, beaches, the fish market near the Arica Port, Iglesia San Marcos, Isla de Alcran etc are a few interesting places worth visiting. Iglesia San Macros is designed by Alexandre Gustave Eiffel, the same engineer who ... read more

hi! in la serena haben wir in den sternenhimmel geguckt und ganz viel ueber galaxien, clusters und sternenbilder gelernt. der guide des observatiorio astronomico mamalluca war sehr engagiert uns allen mehr ueber die sterne zu erzaehlen. zufaelligerweise war auch gleich die nacht der meteoritenregen und wir haben tatsaechlich einige davon vorbeigluehen sehen. der morgenbus brachte uns in 7std. nach chanaral, wo wir ein hotel bezogen, etwas assen und dann gleich den nachtbus nach arica buchten, weil es uns hier ueberhaupt nicht gefallen hat, da der ort mit seinen verfallenen haeusern an einem sonntag ausser einem offenen restaurant und supermarket nicht viel zu bieten hatte. nach weiteren 14std. im komfortablen liegebettbus durch steinwuesten, duenen und mondlandschaften ohne jeglich zivilsation und vegetation sind wir gut in arica angekommen. unsere gewaehlte unterkunft gemaess l... read more

Oh my god, it feels great to finally have a shower and a rest and not have to rush around. We have reached the Northern Chilean town of Arica which is just near the border of Peru and I think a great place to stop for rest. There is a big difference between Bolivia and Chile and its nice to be in civilisation for a while. This internet connection seems super fast! The overnight bus ride to get here was so much better than we have experienced, I slept like a baby and was woken up with a cup of tea. Also, I have been in the front seat of a few buses and it almost feels like you are in an Imax theatre with the desert landscapes sweeping past you.. its amazing stuff. Things are ... read more

Our journey heading north out of San Pedro started off in a strange manner as it was a different type of service to that offered in Bolivia. The Chilean buses are a direct copy of an airline service, equipped with reclining seats and air conditioning. We arrived in Arica the next morning following a few hours of neck-cricking sleep, got breakfast and caught a bus to Putre, 3 hours inland. This didn't go exactly to plan as we discovered when the bus stopped and we were ordered off the bus at a crossroads in the middle of nowhere. Despite a long argument with the bus driver, by Lucy anyway as my Spanish was limited to asking the driver if I could have my steak medium rare, we were left stranded. From a sign we were able ... read more