Arica, Putre, Parinacota

11.06.2013 until 15.06.2013,
The Journey: Calama – Iquique – Arica – Putre – Perinacota – Chungara – Tambo Quemado (1020 km).


Iquique – on the shore of a shallow pool there is a full size copy of the corvette "Esmeralda"



Iquique from higher.




Another mine belonging to UNESCO World Heritage or would it be more accurate to say – two former saltpeter mines : Santa Laura and Humberstone. Both places are at the beginning of the road taking from Panamericana to Iquique.


Santa Laura.




Engine room.


Humberstone is much bigger than Santa Laura. Here the entire campus is open for visitors.








Dwellings, as they were over a century ago.


Doctor`s workspace


Residential buildings.






Church.


Market Hall from 1934.


Theatre.






The former buildings are not empty, here one can see some pieces of furniture, or there are different displays in saome other places.


Spoons, knives, forks,


jugs, ladles, mugs,


and children's toys.




Panamericana is around here at the altitude of about a kilometre and in the meantime there is a 17 km descent, from the height of nearly 1,300 down almost to the sea level.


And then up from the otherside. Road repair is going on here. And in the meantime one has to wait at several places about tens of minutes until the oncoming vehicles have passed.


Before Arica by the desert sculptures some film-making is in progress


Car-wash

Arica.



Catedral de San Marcos. Made entirely of metal, only the front door is of wood. The church was constructed at Eiffelś workshop in Paris in 1870.






Old Customs House. Also, here G.Eiffel is involved as well.


Peruvian Consulate in Arica.



 
Morro de Arica.




The height of 139 meters offers a good view of the city.




The flag of Chile. The city of Arica has belonged over the years to both - Peru, and Bolivia, but as Chile won the Pacific War (War of Pacific 1879-1883),the town belongs to Chile and Bolivia was left without any maritime boundary.



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15 kilometers further north from Arica there is already Peru. But the visit to Peru will come later , the route now goes from the ocean towards inland, because there the visit to Bolivia is waiting ahead. The road goes uphill again.




Meanwhile, up to 3,700 meters altitude.


Putre - a small town, and I will stay here to overnight at the altitude of 3500 m, to get myself acclimated.






Garbage bins at the central square of Putre














Parinacota is a small village at the height of 4400 meters (according to the year of 2002 – the number of inhabitants 29). Wikipedia's list of the highest ranking of settlements by country http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_highest_towns_by_country. Parinacota is in the sixth place.

Parinacota Church was built in the 17th century.


Open-air cafe is waiting for visitors.


Hot drinks are always welcome as it is only + 10 degrees outside, although the sky is clear and the sun is shining.


Viscacha, at first it seemed like a rabbit, only the ears are shorter and the tail is rather longer.

I'm trying to spend the whole full day at the altitude of over 4000 m in order to get accustomed , but to spend the night will return to Putre, the altitude of 3500.






The next day.




Parinacota volcano.


Chungara – the border crossing point of Chile and Bolivia , on Chile`s side. It will take not much time therer. One more stamp in the passport and a look at my car Chile is left behind. The 36-country of this journey, Bolivia is waiting ahead.

Next there is a no-man's-land between the two borders and a long row of trucks dissapearing in the distance.


Kilometres and kilometres of cars and no end in sight. Meanwhile the bus has to be accomodated between them as about a dozen of large vehicles are approaching from the other side. Finally there is traffic jam and behind it is the border station.


The formalities at the Bolivian immigration take almost no time as well.

Outside it is already Bolivia.


I leave the car at the border and try to find the the so-called "customs agent". Here - a decent concert is in progress. Having found the right authorities and filled all the necessary registration documents - everything is accomplished and I can go back to my car .

Outside there is a party in full swing. The first impression of Bolivia is ok in every way.

Another important number: Chungara was in the altitude of 4680 meters , and it is another record of height.

It is one p.m., and 300 kilometers to La Paz. Welcome to Bolivia!