The driest place on earth. Or, my trip to northern Chile.

Here is a selection of pictures from my stay in Arica, Chile, from Oct 14 to Nov 7. Dave Rahn and I drove to the Altiplano on the afternoon of Nov 7th and saw the sunrise over Lago Chungara on the morning of the 8th. Then we began a LONG drive back to Santiago (over 2,200 kms, or about 1370 miles, equivalent to the distance from Greenville, NC to western Oklahoma. Keep in mind the road is two-lane 90% of the way!).

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** Captions are ABOVE the picture! **

I lived at the Hotel Arica for nearly 4 weeks. It was nice enough, I guess (although living in one room for 4 weeks is a bit draining), and they did give us a healthy breakfast each morning: fresh fruit and eggs. I could have chosen sweet rolls and other breads, too, but decided not to.


A view to the south and south-east. Notice the sea fog (i.e., the low stratus deck that we were studying during the project) just behind the rock outcropping.

Tennis, anyone? The seabreeze makes for some interesting shots!

Another view of the stratocumulus field and the coastal boardwalk. Nearly every morning we awoke to stratus, which burned off daily by noon, leaving the afternoon cool (highs near 75) and sunny. Arica is called the "land of eternal spring", and for good reason.


A zoomed out view looking south of the hotel toward the desert.

The statue atop "El Morro". At the bottom are Jesus's words: Amaos los unos a los otros como yo os he amado. Love one another as I have loved you.

View of the port of Arica near sunset. On this particular day, the marine layer had built back in by sunset.

From the downtown plaza, looking back up toward "El Morro".

Looking east along the main pedestrian street in Arica, 21 de Mayo.

Walking to lunch after the 10:30 a.m. briefing.

Mmmm. Lunch at "la picada".

Me with 2 of the students from Andres Bello University (center) and their advisor Marcelo (left).

Another good lunch, this time at a fairly nice place!

La bandera Chilena. The flag of Chile.

Me after running up to the top of the Morro (from sea level pretty much straight up to about 400 feet... not an easy jaunt!)

The view from atop the Morro, again looking south. The Hotel Arica is over my left shoulder, in the foreground.


Some of the relics from the Battle of Arica, between Chile and Peru in the late 1800s.

On the top of the Morro, near the museum for the Battle of Arica. The Jesus statue is in the left-side of the picture.

Another view of Arica taken from the top of the Morro.

Lindsey, a phd student from Univ of Hawaii, and I on our "lunch trip" to Tacna, Peru. (We basically went there for lunch and got back in time to attend Juan's bar-b-que).

In the collectivo (taxi) on our way to Peru. The fare was only CLP$5000 per person (or $10 USD).

View from the collectivo window, departing Arica.


Nearing the border with Peru.


Yay, we're into Peru!


The Peruvian desert doesn't look much different than the Chilean desert.


The Tacna arch in the middle of town.


Another view of the Tacna arch.


Artwork at one of the local museums that Lindsey and I stopped at.

Is it just me or are these paintings a little weird?