Gavina Iquique

... hostal, who had already been flying a week, to the first of 2 launch sites being Alto Hospicio. This is located at the top of the ridge overlooking the city. Once reaching the edge of the ridge, I was thankful for not being expected to flying from here on the first day, certainly didn't feel ready. Instead, took photos of the others taking off. Because the wind ...

... be heard in all the streets, just as it was in the days when the town was thriving. From here Jon drove another hour further north so that we could see the ´giant of the atacama´ largest representation of a human that has been etched out of rock (I think). It was in the middle of nowhere and have to say we were a little disappointed, think we had built it up a bit too much. We didn´t even bother to get out of the car, we ...

... Japanese roomy, who is recently divorced, has tons of money but likes to travel adventurously. There was the Australian man, a recovering alcoholic who was traveling away from his wife for the first time to do what he hadn´t been able to do in his youth (travel around the world). There were countless divorcees, who needed to get away from home for a bit. There were several couples who put their successful careers on hold in order to experience ...

... spell it)." I walked on......... Surley Bonds knows they´re gonna be in high demand soon???? I slept the night in the main square. Of course I didn´t really sleep. The pack of dogs, possibly the same ones from earlier, returned. I half jumped out of my seat with an aplogy in case I had stolen their place of sleep. The dogs in Chile are incredible. During the night they really do hunt in packs. They form little allicances ...

... t remember. It was really cool though. We also stopped by Iquique's little aqarium and saw some Yacarés (which are little Crocodiles). A really long day but a fun day, topped off with 2-minute (sorry, 3-minute) noodles for dinner. Originally we planned on only spending a couple of days in Iquique and to head to Salta, Argentina for Christmas. Apparently though, all the buses were full until after New Year's Eve so we ...

... 10 pm. Time really flew by everyday with the time change and all. The best part was that our hostel was directly across from the beach. Now I'm used to the beach being busy in the morning and in the afternoon people leaving about 3 or 4. But here, the time to go is 4. The local people showed up at 4 or 5 and stayed until after sunset. The water was cold but felt great in the 90 degree heat. We did pretty good about not getting too much sun. I ...

... a un restaurant del centre. Ens dediquem a voltar pel centre i anem també a l'estació per coordinar el transport cap a San Pedro de Atacama. A més a més, hem organitzat una excursió per demà... serà molt interessant! Ja ho veureu! Després internet, per actualitzar la pàgina i, posar-vos al dia! 19.11.2008 Um 8.30 Uhr werden wir von unserem Tourguide und Fahrer abgeholt und mit etwa 11 anderen Leuten geht es auf die Tagestour. Das Wetter ist toll, die Sonne ...

... job car money house and told to take his family and leave the country. A sobering conversation indeed. Conversely, during the days of festivities I met someone who's father was in the Pinochet military, who had a very different outlook on the goings on of the time.. At about 7 in the evening it all began to wind down a bit and one of couples at the barbecue were going on to yet another party. One of the guys ...

... Salta in Argentina for the birthday celebrations!

As we had originally planned on going sandboarding in San Pedro de Attacama but as we were now bypassing there for Salta we went sandboarding on our last day in Iquique. Super fun! Sore when you fall though and I bodyslammed myself onto the sand on one fall and it went everywhere - in my ears, eyes, pants - u name it!! Splat! funny though once I got my breath back.

... the road conditions, he said they were all paved.

So, pleased with my plan, I went to hire a rental car. It cost me around $45 USD for the day + petrol for the small Chevrolet.

I'm not much of a city person, especially when driving in a city I don't know, in a country of whose I don't know if the drivers respect the laws, in a car I've never driven before - but exiting Iquique went easy and the car was climbing the steep cliff wall heading up from the town towards the ...