Chile -Santiago

18 June

Well, the excitement only last a few meters and then back to Ford! SalSolcito is not well and we are getting worried. Something to do with the gases and the bad quality of the diesel but... as advised by the mechanics we keep driving. Today, at 400 km north of Santiago, on Las Serena, a holiday town on the coast, we took the time to put the "house" in order and wait for Monday to go back to a new mechanic :(




6 days in La Serena, sleeping outside the mechanics gate and still no resolution for SalSolcito. We are so cold here, my bones are aching and I am seriously considering that someone did a "number" on us. Such is the trend of bad luck that we are having.

A "job" to trick the motorhome sensors will help us to travel far north were the duty free area can deliver some hope; imported cars and parts could be just what we need.



25 June

Even in this circumstances we are able to appreciate beauty. And a true beauty is the road from Antofagasta to Iquique. An absolute ocean road, carved in the middle of the rocks, the mountains and the desert. A mystic and surprising road. The clouds above the mountains. Rocks of all shapes and colours descend unevenly and loosely on the sand. Today finally we see the sun and it is a bit warm just enough to lift our spirits.

It is such a pity that people's ignorance so quickly becomes fear. At every step there are someone who says "don't go there" and star telling war stories. It was funny because we picked up 2 young men on the road who were coming from working in a desolated seaweed beach. They took us to their village, a "caleta", a fisherman village best described as a slum. A place where I have to admit we would have never gone inside. As we were talking to the locals and enjoying the festivities (it was San Pedro day...the fisherman's saint) a few people were saying "if you go to Iquique, just go to the "high suburban" area, don't go where the poor people are"!

So, even as we tried to dismiss all calls, we still were a bit hesitant when approached Iquique; so much so that the first night we drove all the way back to the highway so we could sleep in the service area! Second night, much better, we bike ride the promenade (very nice!) and ended up sleeping on the promenade at the main beach.

Still couldn't find the part for SalSolcito, even after spending the whole day in the duty free market. But we did buy for her new tyres! And after another "cheating job" in another mechanic place we decided to continue our way to Brazil