Monday was day for us and we ended up getting no unhealthy information which, as we had a docs appointment and a date with a elements retailer was pretty vital.
Mark the campground proprietor and Reuben our mechanic went into city and we introduced Emma and Leone, Marks favourite canines with us. Rusty stayed aboard in his mattress after I took him for a morning stroll. Mark’s different rescues stayed house.
However as we had been early we went for a stroll within the historic district.
Till the Warfare of the Pacific in 1879 when Peru and Bolivia attacked Chile to achieve extra mines within the desert Iquique (“ee-key-kay “) was a Peruvian port however after Chile received the struggle Bolivian Antofagasta and Peruvian Iquique and Arica grew to become Chilean.
This coast was additionally well-known for the export of guano, one other identify for fowl shit to not put too superb some extent on it, which was invaluable in Europe as fertilizer, shipped laboriously round Cape Horn.
Then a German scientist invented synthetic guano and the market collapsed. Nevertheless mining continued to be an vital business and Britain, the worldwide energy, had a number of fingers in mining concessions right here.
Indigenous Bolivian girls to today put on bowler hats imported to the area as protecting headgear by British miners.
I used to be fairly positive I had some pores and skin most cancers to fret about, as individuals my age typically do. Final 12 months Layne didn’t weeks coping with one on her leg, eliminated in Arequipa and I’ve a lump n my arm I puzzled about. So I had some sugar to cheer me up; my final meal because it had been. A slice of Divine cake with a espresso.
Then we walked again to the waterfront to satisfy our destiny.
We had made our appointment a mere 4 days in the past and it prices us $60 to see Physician Reyes. Accessibility to medical care right here is really easy in comparison with the US and the standard of care may shock you.
Mark abc I had been exchanging notes on our relative motorbike accidents. He was so badly injured by a distracted driver he was put into an induced coma earlier than they operated on him. He’s as proper as rain after going by means of the (free) Chilean healthcare system. I used to be fortunate I had first fee insurance coverage for my bankrupting sized invoice.
Physician Reyes has a bizarre telephone attachment on his cell which he factors at your pores and skin and he can learn the outcomes on his telephone. “Finest US expertise,” he mentioned with a smile as he needed every of us in flip. We each obtained a clear invoice of well being. He mentioned he additionally has a surgical procedure middle in his workplaces the place he can take away something he does discover so we’re undoubtedly planning to return subsequent 12 months earlier than we set off north to go house.
Mark was downstairs as he’d completed his chores and to rejoice our excellent news he took us to see the sealions.
Fishermen feed them scraps so that they’ve misplaced their worry of people however prefer it or not there they’re so we obtained our cameras out.
I’ve by no means been to Hong Kong so I’ve solely seen images however for some purpose this scene throughout the bay to town put me in thoughts of Hong Kong.
There isn’t any marina or jetty in Iquique however they’ve haul out services for fishing boats and although there was a swell crashing on the seashore on the metropolis entrance the mooring subject was surprisingly flat.
Mark says in summer time individuals swim among the many sealions who appear to take pleasure in seeing individuals up shut and but not consuming them. Layne and I swam amongst sealions in Baja California 30 years in the past and suggest the expertise.
Mark mentioned that they had ceviche for sake upstairs so we went vans purchased just a few varieties and determined to take them house to share on the campgrounds and appetizer.
Then we purchased 4 empanadas for a late lunch and located ours had been crispy fried pastries completely full of crab and shrimp. Mark and Reuben had shellfish in theirs.
Empanada man mss as he’s them yo order can we had a wait however we took them to go.
Then we did a fast store at Lider (“chief”) which is Walmart and at last obtained to drive house.
Mark says you may hire a waterfront apartment for $600 a month which looks like a discount in a rustic as developed as Chile. For now we like being nomads.
Rusty was sleeping in his mattress once we obtained again. I obtained a fast kiss then Layne gave him a cookie and it was sunbathing time.
The underside finish of the yard is his area.
And eventually we obtained phrase the elements have arrived. It doesn’t get a lot better than that.