Blogs from Arica & Parinacota, Chile, South America - page 2

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South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota October 9th 2014

The border crossing between Peru and Chile was probably one of our more timely and complex. It involved getting a bus from Arequipa to Tacna, then finding a minibus (which we failed to do and ended up sharing a taxi with some other travellers), to take you across the border, the friendly taxi driver then sorts out all your paperwork. At the border crossing we obviously looked a bit suspicious as we were both hauled into a couple of side rooms to have our bags searched and be patted down. Nothing to find here but they seemed curious as to why I was returning to Peru nearly 5 years to the day after leaving. A short explanation in broken Spanish and, luckily, we were off again. Our taxi driver dropped us safely in Arica, where we ... read more
Our waitrose goods
Sea lion jumping back into the water
Arica harbour

South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota » Arica March 19th 2014

Geo: -18.4874, -70.3222Didn't know what to expect in Arica. This is one of the driest places in the world. We lucked into a tour with the on-board naturalist to the mountain lake. Claim is the highest unnavigable in the world. We were not sure what to expect. Very pleased to have "post card" pictures of snow-capped volcanoes in the background. Thanks Dirk! Since we were in a van, extra stops were easy. The little stone church is over 500 years old and we had vicuna crossing the road. I need to talk to Dirk to find out the type of bird that was having breakfast beside the ship when we got off.We are up early tomorrow for the highlight. Machu Picchu is Saturday. Hoping for a sunny day like we had in Arica... read more
Downtown beside the ship
Geolyphs of Lluta Valley
Dry place

South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota » Arica March 8th 2014

3 March 2014 – Monday – Arequipa, Peru to Arica, Chile Notes: Mostly desert. Oasis with grape vines. Joan busted for carrying a banana. Through Yura, the cement capital of Peru, desolate and ugly mining area. We rode another bus for 7 houses along the Pan American Highway from Arequipa to the border town of Tacna in Peru, where we caught a collectivo that took us to the border crossing between Peru and Chile. The driver assisted us and the other three passengers with the process of checking out of Peru and checking in to Chile. (Joan got busted with a Peruvian banana but was allowed through with only a warning!) Then he drove us into the town of Arica and dropped us off at the bus station. Our hostel was across the street from the ... read more
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South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota November 2nd 2013

Heute begann der Tag mit vier Krankmeldungen, alle Durchfall: James/Canada fuhr im Van of Shame, SOB (Sir Old Bastard) fuhr selber, nachdem er zwei von meinen Wundertabletten genommen hatte und dann zum Fruehstueck zwei Glaeser Orangensaft getrunken und zwei Scheiben frisch gebackenes Brot gegessen hatte. Darran nahm seine eigenen Pillen, aber eigentlich sind es die gleichen, wie meine (Xifaxan), David nahm zuerst ........ und dann Darran's - es besteht also Aussicht auf baldige Genesung der Kraenkelnden. Chaotische Ausfahrt aus Arequipa, sehr frueh am Morgen schon, dann 480 km durch die Wueste, was mir immer sehr gut gefaellt. Lustig waren zwei peruanische Militaereinrichtungen, die zur Strasse (PanAm) hin mit einer langen und hohen Mauer abgeschirmt waren - aber eben nur an der einen Seite. Problemlos konnte man von hinten oder den Seiten in das Gelaende eindringen. Will ... read more


- Drive from San Pedro de Atacama to Iquique - 490 km A long drive with straights as long as the horizon and never ending dirt roads due to road constructions, that was the ride in a nutshell to Iquique. The town itself proofed to be nothing exciting and we were happy to move on further north. On our way to Arica we stopped at Humberstone and Santa Laura, where the wealth of the nitrate boom is still whispering through the deserted ghost towns. We wondered for half a day thru a bygone time and enjoyed the desert heat. Another short stop at “El Gigante” – a geoglyph which dates back to around AD 900 took both our fascination. - Drive from Iquique to Arica - 310 km The roads in the north of Chile are ... read more
Parque Nacional Lauca
Pisco Sour
Arica

South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota » Arica April 17th 2013

17th April ’13 San Pedro de Atacama to Iquique, Chile It was in some ways quite sad to be leaving the cute hostel and the little town, which we are now quite fond of but oxygen beckons so we caught the Tur bus to Calama and so left town. We drove through the desert passing lots of salt mines and spent the journey chatting with a lovely, broad cockney lass who now lives in Australia, who was sitting in front of us. We had an hour and a half to kill in Calama before our next bus so we wandered out of the bus station and found a little place to eat, this time watching the Spanish version of Judge Judy while waiting for our grub. The bus to Iquique arrived and left bang on time ... read more
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South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota » Arica February 7th 2013

Geo: -18.4874, -70.3222I (Liz) enjoyed Patagonia and the ferry cruise. It made a welcome change to visiting cities and I enjoyed talking to any Engllish speakers about their travel plans and reasons for their trip. \there were 2 couples we got to knw travelling with ther daughters and then we saw the Americans again at our hotel, straight after the boat, and went out to dinner together. We also re-met the Lebanese couple from the boat ( a Harvard doctor, now living in Boston) in the Torre Del Panne park, together with the strange Irish Diplomat, Eaomon - all very convivial. But then the whole day flying north to Arica where we were picked up very efficiently at the airport at gone midnight and were back in very warm temperatures again, so the aircon went on ... read more
One of Arica's Plazas.
The dry barren hills around Arica
A mummified head

South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota » Arica December 20th 2012

Day 19: Playing in the sea with Ben We went shopping in the shopping centre to buy Christmas presents and we bought lots of lovely presents. Mum and Dad went to buy presents for me, Joe and Ben and me, Joe and Ben went to buy presents for them. For the first hour we didn’t get anything because we didn’t see anything that Mum and Dad would like and so we went to McDonalds because that’s where Mum and Dad said to meet up after the first hour. After we had a drink we went off and this time we found some presents for Mum and Dad. After we were very sweaty and tired after all that shopping we went back to the apartment and we had a little rest. After a while we went to ... read more
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South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota December 19th 2012

My favourite moments of Day 18. Waking up with the sun pouring in and listening to the waves breaking. Walking along the sand with Gray, talking about things deep and meaningful and then sharing a vainilla latte by the beach. Watching a huge cruise ship dock, discharge its bewildered tourists, call them back again and set sail with all its lights blazing at night. Walking along the beach at night with Joe. We are leaving soon so this is my final contribution. It has been amazing! Love to all readers Andrea/mum... read more
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South America » Chile » Arica & Parinacota » Arica December 18th 2012

I know that there are a least a few blog followers who share my passion for anything with an internal combustion engine and 4 wheels and I said I’d write a bit about the Xterra we’ve been travelling in. If cars isn’t your cup of tea skip this one! Well, I’m very impressed. So much so that I’ve started looking at what Nissans are available for when we finally make it back to the UK. The Xterra would be wasted in the UK really. It’s best on uncertain or gravel surfaces, but has been remarkably smooth on the tarmac too and it’s really roomy. Last time we came here to Chile was 3 years ago and we did the 10 hour trip in our tiny 3 door Toyota Starlet, so it’s been great to have the ... read more
Not me guv




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