Joan's Birthday

Sunday 16th December

Caught a taxi to the airport. There was some problem with our booking and the check-in clerk wrote our tickets out manually. Security did not like this and would not let us through to the gate, so we had to go back to the Sky Airlines’ desk. They had a word with security and at last we were let through.

Short flight of just under two hours to Antofagasta. On board the plane, we read a local newspaper and it says there was an intensity V earthquake yesterday north of Santiago. The Metro had to shut down for seven minutes and a couple of houses collapsed in Valparaiso. We didn’t even feel it! When we arrived in Antofagasta, we were amazed. Just lots and lots of sand. An empty coast stretching for miles, and, of course, the Andes. No vegetation, no water, nothing. Almost lunar in quality. We picked up our 4WD, and drove down into town. Our hotel is right on the front and we have a lovely sea view with the waves crashing in.

Headed into the centre of town. The shops were so unusual and brightly coloured, a bit like you imagine in the Wild West.

One disturbing thing. We tried to get some money out of some ATMs and we keep being turned down. That means, we are running low on cash. We are going to head into town tomorrow to try and sort the problem out when the banks are open.

Then we drove south to the Ruinas de Huanchaca, an old Bolivian silver refinery which processed ore from the Potosi mine, one of the most important in South America.

Opposite was the old HQ of the Huanchaca Foundation, a military outpost dating from 1898.

We decided the culinary choice in Antofagasta was too overwhelming so we made a sandwich in our room. How exciting is that?

If we sort the money problem out, we are going to drive up the coast road to Tocopilla. Much of the town was damaged a few weeks ago by a big earthquake. We’re not to sure what to expect, but we have a tent at the ready, just in case!