Back at sea level

After San Pedro de Atacama, I went to Arica, a city further North in Chile.

The old Aduana in Arica

The Morro

Pelicans in Arica

And finally...I was back at the beach! It was not quite warm enough to spend all day on the beach and go swimming, but it was enough for some relaxing hours of lying in the sun.

Chinchorro beach

Arica also has a lot of other things to see. There is a lot of history; the oldest mummies ever found were discovered here, which you can see in the Museo Arquelógico de San Miguel de Azapa.

Mummy at Museo Arquelógico de San Miguel de Azapa

I went to the Santuario de Picaflores, a place outside Arica where a woman takes care of hummingbirds and some other animals in a very interesting setting (whole rooms furnished in the forest...) and which you can visit with her as a guide.

Santuario de Picaflores

Santuario de Picaflores

The cemetery in San Miguel de Azapa is probably the strangest I have ever seen.

Cementerio de San Miguel de Azapa

Cementerio de San Miguel de Azapa

The cathedral San Marcos de Arica was designed by Eiffel and the sunset seen from the Morro (a big hill in the city centre) is beautiful.

Catedral San Marcos de Arica by night

View form the Morro

View form the Morro

In a village called Codpa, at about 2 hours from Arica, there was a big traditional wine fest on that weekend. Another opportunity to see a very traditional festivity! So on Saturday I went to Codpa. They sold a lot of local foods and drinks, especially of course the Pintatani, the special wine the whole fiesta is about (which is very tasty and also very strong).

Vendimia in Codpa

Local fruits at the Vendimia in Codpa

There were also shows of traditional dances and music from the region and demonstrations of the wine making process.

Traditional dances at the Vendimia in Codpa

Traditional dances at the Vendimia in Codpa

Traditional dances at the Vendimia in Codpa

Traditional dances at the Vendimia in Codpa

It was a great day and a very nice couple from Arica who come there every year even invited me to sleep over in there tent, so that I could see the shows that are on at night as well. Unfortunately, I had to decide against this because sleeping in a tent without a sleeping or even a sleeping mat seemed like a very bad idea at the cold night time temperatures you get at an altitude of almost 2000m. So I took the last bus back to Arica that night.