Weeknote 150

Return to Arica

• Early Tuesday morning we left Lima, bound for Arica, Chile. With no direct flights available, we took a domestic LATAM flight to Tacna and then crossed the Peru/Chile land border by taxi.
• Chaos at Lima airport: the self-bag drop rejected my check-in, forcing me into the queue for a staffed desk, where my second bag was initially refused for the hold. Confusingly, it was later accepted just before boarding.
• The short taxi ride across the border was seamless, with virtually no wait to have my passport checked and stamped into Chile.
• This is my first Christmas outside the UK, spent in a sunny, warm climate with desert landscapes and temperatures close to 30 °C here in Arica.
• On Christmas Eve I joined Mena’s family for dinner, met my new great-nephew, and experienced the Chilean tradition of opening presents on the 24th rather than the 25th.
• In my first week in Arica I’ve enjoyed delicious Chilean food, including freshly made pastel de choclo, empanadas, and Conchitas a la Parmesana (scallops grilled with Parmesan).
• A week off the bike has left me with persistent muscular pain in my legs. I’m hoping some structured stretching and a visit to the local gym will help.