The Panamerican highway drops down through the red rocks of the coastal sierra while the temperature ranges from 14 to 33 again this day. Along the road are signs of the number of people who get killed on this highway. I photograph one particularly interesting shrine where the guy’s car has been displayed along with huge flower arrangements (all plastic) sofas, chairs - are they supposed to come back and rest there? Or does the family come by to pay their respects? Who knows. I know the way they drive it isn’t surprising to see all these shrines.
We are back on toll roads, the only way to go and about $12 a day.
We drop down the sierra into sea fog, which will plague us for the next week. e try to find the famous Playa deal Virgin, once unknown, now more popular. Chile’s most photographed beach apparently. After several abortive attempts blocked by sand tracks, we give up. But two cars pass us obviously willing to give it a try.
We pass through several oasis river areas flowing down to the Pacific which are rich agricultural lands, produce for sale at the edge of the road in places. Acres of olive trees, trimmed back to about 6ft tall at most for mechanical picking I assume. e buy lives and dry figs for the road.
Again we spot a lone guanaco near the road in the middle of nowhere, staring at us with those long lashed glazed eyes.
We’ve booked into the only big hotel which is 2 minutes off the highway. The room is beautifully appointed and QUIET! It’s US$11 a night and worth it. We have a free pisco in the bar before a nice fish dinner (we have learned to have one between two now an Ted sleeps from 9pm to 7am next morning. I loll in the big BATH Aaaaaaah
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