Calama

Trip Start Aug 03, 2008
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Trip End Ongoing


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Flag of Chile  ,
Sunday, August 10, 2008

Filled the car and checked the tyres and realized that we had been driving along on tyres with a pressure of only 16 and also had to top up brake fluid.  From Caldera we drove along the coast for a bit then headed inland.  This must be the most boring bit of road in Chile.  It's flat, flat, flat and there is nothing of interest to see.  A huge industrial hammer mill the largest Malcolm has ever seen grinding up stones....a bit like a cement mixer...but as with everything in Chile...humungous. We decided that we would bypass Antofogasta and drive an extra hour straight to Calama.  This way we could spend more time in San Pedro de Atacama.  The roads were mostly dirty, dusty and dry and we just followed the road for miles and miles seeing eerie deserted nitrate towns easily appreciated from a car window. 
 
At Calama we stayed at ...... expensive town because most of the town is funded by the mines. Dinner wasn't anything to write home about but the continental breakfast was good.  Made myself an extra roll to go ...little snacks along the way.  Next morning we drove out of town via Chuquicamata.   Have been told it employs 15000 workers per shift and they run 3 shifts per day.  The workers all have fantastic pays and conditions...since early 1990s when the unions took control and organized miners' rights.
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