Arica, Chile

Monday, February 4, 2019

This morning I woke up in a new country: Chile! I’m in Arica, Chile. This little town is only 18 miles from the border of Perú, making it just about the northernmost community in Chile.

In fact, Arica used to be part of Perú, but Perú lost some territory as part of the War of the Pacific between Perú, Bolivia and Chile. After the war, Arica became an important port for shipments to and from Bolivia, as it is closer than either of the next two best alternatives and Bolivia is a landlocked country.

Today, Arica is mostly known as a tourist location with its beautiful beaches and active nightlife. People (especially young people) flock to Arica from La Paz, Bolivia and Tacna, Perú to soak up sun and dive into the nightlife.

When sailing into the harbor at Arica, the most famous landmark you will see is the Morro de Arica. This is a big hill that stands right on the shore of Arica and can be seen prominently for many miles around.

There is a pathway that people can use to get to the top of the hill where a panoramic view of the little town of Arica can be seen. The following photo shows you that panorama, but it was not taken by me. No way. I was not going to spend my day being rescued half-way up the biggest hill in town.

So, instead of going mountain climbing, I went Wi-Fi hunting. From the gate of the docks (where the shuttle bus from the ship dropped me off) I could see Golden Arches protruding up into the partly cloudy skies just a few blocks from where I stood. McDonald’s has Wi-Fi, right? So, I proceeded down this very cute pedestrian alleyway in the direction of that giant yellow mammaric logo. The alley easily reminded me of the little alleyway I discovered in Santa Marta, Colombia. These car-less pedestrian shopping “malls” are really fun. I think there should be more of them everywhere!

Once inside the local McDonald’s I was relieved to find that they did, in fact, have Wi-Fi and that it was relatively fast. (Of course, I’m getting used to the ship’s Wi-Fi which makes a damn dial-up modem seem fast.) So, I decided to be a good customer, order some food and then find a corner where I could soak up all of the Wi-Fi that I could consume before the Amsterdam set sail.

The menu here in Chile was nothing like any McDonald’s menu I’ve seen in the US. I guess that a smart company tailors their offerings to accommodate the local tastes. That’s why I ordered the McPollo Italiano!

And just exactly how much should lunch in Chile cost me. I dunno, but I came prepared!

(And, I got about $1000 back in change!)

While waiting for my order to arrive, I glanced around at the advertising and promotional signage all around me. Here’s one of those promotional signs that really caught my eye. I know that there are some people, even Presidents, who simply cannot resist a McDonald’s hamburger. Some might even say they are addictive. But here in Chile, it’s apparently just fine to compare your food to CRACK! And, at $4000 per meal, maybe it comes with a whole bunch of real crack!

It didn’t.

Now, for just a moment, let me tell you about my McPollo Italiano.

Here’s what McDonald’s in Chile sells as something Italian inspired. First, you start with the same bun you use for your Quarter Pounder burgers. Ok, Italians have bread, too. Now, into that bun you insert a breaded piece of chicken, some mayonnaise, tomato slices, and guacamole. Don’t believe me? Look at the picture! Check the menu! What could possibly be more Italian than that? Joe Caracci would just love it!

Well, the rest of the day was spent mostly running around trying to find good/better Internet and doing a little window shopping along the way.

Then, just before departing from Arica, the local high school showed with their marching band and many dancing performers to give us a very colorful sendoff. Photos are attached here, but you really need to see the video! When shall we do that?

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All-in-all, I really liked little Arica. It was a culturally strange place (to me, at least) and therefore a bit exotic. I would be happy to return here, hang out at the beach, and eat more Italian food!

A new phase

As I prepare to sail away from Arica, I feel as though this moment is another “punctuation mark” in my world tour. A place where the focus divides between what has been and what is coming. For days now, we’ve been exploring the west coast of South America. As I leave Arica, I leave South America behind me and start out upon the next phase of this trip: little islands. What does the next week or two hold in store for me? I’m excited to find out.

What is it?

OK, it’s time to announce what this is:

Of course, you know it is a penguin! Lots of correct guesses this time!

So, tonight, when I came back from my visit to Arica, I found this guy on my bed. This one is probably the easiest animal so far.

What is it? Send me your reply, or just a message. I’ll let you know the answer soon, unless this one is a runaway, in which case I’ll move swiftly along to the next one.

G’night.