Chile, Oh How We Loved Chile

March 10, 2012, day 56, we arrived in Chile; crossing the border took about 3 hours. Customs for the motorcycles always seem to take a little longer than you expect.  The border crossings in South America are very laid back, easy to figure out, no running back and forth and best of all no bandits trying to scam you by "helping" you. 


Exchange rate: $1 usd to $480 Chilean Pesos
Gas: 93 octane $792 to $814 pesos per liter

The Atacama Desert goes on for miles and miles.  Along side the highway we noted these sand sculptures.  

Along the way to Iquique, Chile we met up with two motorcyclists along the road and rode with them to town. They were both on BMW's, Gonzalo Benvenuto from Iquique, Chile who had been on a ride to Cusco and back and the other gentleman was from Belgium and had been traveling South America by himself for about 5 weeks.  He will end up in Paraguay where he will sell his bike after visiting his daughter in Brazil.  The two of them met up with each other in Cusco about 3 days earlier.  As we travel we continue to meet more and more ambassadors for the different countries.  This young man from Chile, Gonzalo,  was another one.  He not only led us to town but when we got there he went on a mission to find us the perfect hotel/hostal.  He called several  places for prices and availability and rode around town to several.  He then came back to the hotel the next morning to wish us off.  Gonzalo, welcome to the journey and hope to see you in Wyoming sometime!  Karl, from Belgium rode with us until about noon and then he turned off and we continued south along the coast of Chile.

Gonzalo and Karl

Then there is the famous hand in the desert....Mano El Desierto. The picture does not show how the wind was blowing. I was sure that the bikes were going to get blown over but somehow they did not. It is not very often you see Carl without a hat, well,the wind will do that.



It is not everyday on a trip through Central and South America that you find a 5 star restroom.  But when you do it should be documented.   What makes a 5 star restroom?  Well, clean, toilet seat, toilet paper, soap and paper towels do the trick for me.  I appreciate when you have a combination of the 5 and not have to pay for it.  I enjoy the countries that realize that the using a restroom is a right!  That is not the case everywhere we have been.  One gas station we stopped at along the way, Carl went in first.  He returned with the report that I would be more comfortable dropping my drawers in the middle of the parking lot than using the restroom.  The females was locked, out of order, the men's had urine on the floor about an inch deep.  I passed and my bladder has been stretched again!

The road along the coast of Chile afforded us with some wonderful roads that allowed us to gather up some miles.  Days 56 to 59 we did 1493 miles.  This brought us to San Fernando, Chile.

We stopped early in the day and ended up at Hotel San Fernando Bed and Breakfast.  What a wonderful town it was.  We went to the Centro area and there were two hotels across the street from each other.  One was full and the other one, I did not like the looks of.  While we were on the street discussing where to go, the parking attendant gave us the card and directions to the Hotel San Fernando.  We were having difficulty finding the hotel and stopped and asked a lady for directions, she did not know but a man in a pick up went by and she flagged him down. He ended up leading us to the hotel.  

Angelica, the owner and hostess with the mostest! Our stay at the San Fernando was absolutely one of the most comfortable rests we had. This stop came when both of us were coughing and hacking and generally not feeling well. We decided that maybe since we had been sick for almost 2 weeks we should go to the doctor. We had bought amoxicillin in Lima and took it but it did not help. So, then comes Jean Paul, owner .  We asked him if he could recommend a doctor for us to go to. He not only did that but scheduled, chauffeured and paid for the appointment.  Then he took us to several pharmacies to get the correct medicine that was ordered.



Jean Paul

The San Fernando Hotel Bed and Breakfast had the most comfortable beds and Angelica made absolutely, without a doubt, the best fresh juices that we have every tasted.  It was a most comfortable 2 night rest.   Jean Paul arranged for us to be interviewed by the local newspaper, Diario VI Region. Here we all are in front of the newspaper office.

The first night we were at San Fernando, we met two LDS elders who were from the US doing their missionary work in San Fernando.  After visiting with them for quite sometime out in front of the hotel, they invited us to dinner at one their friends house.  We went down to Christian Martinez's home and had a wonderful chicken and rice dinner.   Welcome Christian, Matt and Austin to the rest of our journey!

All in all we really liked Chile! Great roads albeit toll roads, desert, and beautiful beaches!  Not to mention some of the most generous people on earth!