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Two
views of the Panamericana Norte (Ruta 5), north of Santiago. As you
travel north on the long drive to La Serena, the landscape becomes
progressively drier and more barren, although in September one is likely
to see many spring flowers along a good part of the way. |
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Desert near
Ovalle. This town is roughly 350kms north of Santiago, and well into
the Atacama desert; however, along streambeds there is considerable
production of alfalfa and similar crops. |
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Coquimbo,
fishermen and friends. This town is a major port for the north, and
a major center for fish processing, but is somewhat poor and shabby in
appearance. However, there are several nice beaches and summer
resorts nearby. |
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La
Serena, two views. This city of 170,000 is 475kms north of Santiago
and is considered one of the nicest cities in the north. It was
founded in 1544, yet most of the main buildings are neo-colonial and of
recent vintage. Seen in the top photo is the Town Hall and the
Cathedral, completed in 1844; the bottom photo shows a middle class
neighborhood. |
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La Serena, Farol
Monumental. This lighthouse is a national monument and a prominent
landmark along this portion of the coast. |
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La Serena, view
of the Alameda. This picture was taken from atop the Farol
Monumental. |
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La Serena,
sunset. On almost any day of the year when there are clouds it is
possible to see sunsets similar to this. |
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Vicuņa,
two views of the parish church. This small town is situated 66kms
east of La Serna in the Valle de Elqui (Elqui Valley), and is known
throughout Chile as the birthplace of the Nobel Prize-winning poet
Gabriela Mistral. The caretaker of this church told me that for the
entire year up to the time of my visit, the town had recorded only one 30
minute rain shower. |
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Valle de Elqui,
vineyards. The Elqui Valley is renowned as the home of pisco, a sour
and potent alcoholic beverage consumed in Chile and Peru. These vineyards
produce some of the finest pisco grapes anywhere. |
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Valle
de Elqui, three views. For lovers of stark desert scenes, this
valley is not to be missed. It also is an easy day trip from La
Serena with a car, and a good paved highway goes almost as far as the
Argentine border. The valley is quite intensively farmed with
grapes, alfalfa, and cotton grown where irrigation permits. The
backdrop of the Andes mountains is spectacular. |
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