December 17-24, 2021—Our stops on the coast of Chile, Part 1--Overview and Coquimbo

 

We can’t believe how fast the time is going. Not only are there countless activities and events we want to attend each day at sea, but we’ve now completed seven (we think) different online forms required by the countries we are visiting (which, actually, is only three on this second leg of the trip—Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay). The problem is we’re going back and forth in and out of Argentina, and they have the most burdensome entrance/egress requirements. Chile was onerous, too, about vaccinations, but much of that was done before we sailed or on the first leg. And we still have United to do closer to disembarking. Would have been very tough without a computer along--lots of people trying to do this on their phones. In recent stops, it seems Oceania has cleared us through the affadavits we have created, thus saving time disembarking. 

 

We have some general observations about Chile, then we’ll dive into the ports we have visited. The people we met were generally kind and helpful--gentle, friendly people. We wish we could have had more interaction. Most of our coastal stops were in fog and low clouds—but once on the hills out of town, the weather was sunny and much warmer. We’d like to spend more time here, from the high desert area up north to the lush agricultural areas, down past the coastal rain forest into the mountains and lakes of the Patagonia region. Weatherwise, we learned that if you don’t like it either drive away from the coast or wait a few minutes.

 

Every business we saw, whether at a Christmas Market or established store in a town, had a sign posted stating the number of occupants allowed inside at any one time. You would see customers queued up outside waiting to get in. And all were wearing masks. 

 

Moonrise over Coquimbo, Chile--Bastion Peak, 18,458 ft, in the distance

 

Coquimbo. Following our long sail from the Panama Canal was our first Chile stop, Coquimbo. We toured the rather ordinary town built on the hills surrounding a lovely protected harbor, and learned that it and its neighbor La Serena are significant resort destinations in the summer. A tsunami came through in 1991 and wiped out the lower part of town. The large apartment buildings that now front the beaches are seasonal rentals, not residential. The town of La Serena is more upscale, with fancier homes, shops, and restaurants. The guides were thrilled to have tourists back, after a nearly two-year drought.

 

 

The Third Millenium Cross towers above Coquimbo, said to be the tallest monument in South America (athough not the highest).

 

 

 

 

 

View of harbor shipwreck from our deck.

 

 

 

 

 

Santa helps get this little Christmas market ready in La Serena.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cap stopped for a local Chilean beer at the Christmas Market. Received $1.00 back from a $5. bill for 1 beer. Dutch couple sat down beside him and got 2 of the same beer for $3.00. Nice work, Cap. 

 

And, continuing on the good things to drink theme, Cap saw this display of Pisco, although, unfortunately, samples were not offered. What he learned: Pisco & Pisco Sour--Pisco is a colorless or yellowish-to-amber colored brandy produced in winemaking regions of Peru and Chile. Made by distilling fermented grape juice into a high-proof spirit, it was developed by 16th-century Spanish settlers as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain.