Sunday 2/16/20 Coquimbo, Chile

This beautiful city was quite a surprise to me. Guess I didn’t pay that much attention to South American geography in school. Then again, not sure we ever really studied it. In any case Coquimbo is a city of a million people stretching for miles along beautiful white sand beaches with the Andes in the background. San Francisco has nothing on Coquimbo or its sister city of La Serenia. Only difference is that here they did not feel the need to have all the switchbacks of Lombard St. Both cities were notably clean with tile streets. The harbor was dotted with yachts and the coastline blanketed with high rise hotels, condos and apartments.

We had not booked an excursion thru the ship so we hired a cab to take us to the lighthouse in La Serenia. That he did and many more sights in the two cities. The lighthouse appeared to be quite old but his English was not such that he could tell us much of the history. He repeatedly apologized for his “poor English” which certainly beat my total inability to speak Spanish. Fortunately, Tommy was able to fill in some gaps. After a drive along the beach, a photo op at the lighthouse, he took us thru some of the other main attractions of the city including a US Marine monument, several cathedrals, and parks. At one point he said “this for bad boys, they take bad boys there” It was a jail. Nice on the outside, not interested in seeing the inside. I suggested that surely he had not spent any time there, but not sure he understood what I was saying or just chose not to understand.

Upon arrival we had seen a huge stone cross atop a peak looking over the city. Before returning to the ship he managed to get us into the area and took some pictures of us in front of the cross. It also serves as a bell tower which plays on the hour 12 times a day. Then strikes a couple of times at the half hour. Didn’t get to hear the music or the bells. Alas, another trip perhaps.

We are now off to Santiago where we will lose our new found friends, The Halls. Can’t let them get away without another fine dining experience so tonight its The Polo Grill.

The sea is very tranquil. Upchuck bags have disappeared. Life is fantastic! Going to work on posting all these many pics we’ve taken along the way. Don’t worry, Donia. Tommy won’t make you wait until I’ve accomplished that for you to see the lighthouse. Maybe you can Google it for details on its history.

This IS someday. Enjoy it.