Bahia Inglesa

It's a strange thing but we seem to be losing our way a bit. We're not quite sure what to do with ourselves at the moment. All the major sights that we have wanted to see are behind us, and apart from the Colca Canyon, in Peru, we aren't too sure what we should do. We also seems to have a lot of time to spare as well. Needless to say, with hindsight, we have been chewing over the possibilities that we could have done...go to Brazil, spend more time in Patagonia...oh well never mind. Regrets, I have a few....but then again, too few to mention.

With that in mind we head of to the little visited town, off the tourist trail, of Copiapo. The reason we have come here is because it is the gateway to what should be a fantastic National Park, with the highest volcano in the world and the highest lake in the world.

We arrive at our hostel....I don't know why but we don't half pick em. Copiapo is a bog standard average sort of town, no frills, no flashing lights, no touristy type thingies. The people are good honest working class folk. Inevitably the town is nothing to look at; it's functional and it serves it's purpose, even if it is a bit ugly. But our hostel is another world. It genuinely has to be the cleanest place that we have stayed. The tiles gleam, the painted woodwork is spotless; not a hair, cobweb or speck of dust can be found anywhere and the place is festooned with thousand of bouquets of flowers...plastic and spotless of course. There are women walking around cleaning from 7am to gone midnight; and they are all under the control of the fiercest landlady we have encountered to date. When we arrive, mid afternoon, and are shown to our room by one of the ladies we are informed that we cant complete the register at the moment because "Madam is sleeping". When we finally are granted an audience this woman is fierce with a capital F. She is huge, and looks rather similar to Jabba the Hut. She oozes self-assurance and barks orders to her minions who pander to her every wish. I am convinced that if they dare to disobey or displease her that she probably eats them. I like her.














Unfortunately we scout round for tours to the national park but the prices being quoted are absolutely ridiculous - $300 each for one day!! Later that, we ain't got that kind of cash to splash about. So the purpose of us coming to this town has now evaporated. However we are told of some good beaches that are nearby, just an hour away by bus. The journey is a little bit of a mission and, as always on local buses, one ends up with someones arse in your face, but it is really worth it. The beach is beautiful pristine white coral-sand leading down to aq tourquoise and deep blue sea. We are now at the begining of the Chilean holiday season so the beach is a little packed with families, but that doesnt distract from the fact that are at the most gorgeous beach we have seen so far on this trip. So much so that despite the fact that Copiapo has no real reason for us to stay, unless you are into watching drunk people on the streets shouting, we decide that we shall stay a few days so that we can enjoy the beach and have some relaxation-ness....after all we have the time.