Pica
Oasis

Wednesday August 1

Oasis. The word describes Pica, Pica describes the word, and here we did what travelers are supposed to do at an oasis. OK, we did everything except water our animals. We definitely fed and watered ourselves. 

We arrived here Monday shortly after dark, meandering about town for a few minutes before finding a pedestrian to ask directions. Then we finally spotted "Hostel Cafe Suizo."  I explained to the dueno (proprietor) that our pick-up was very tall, and he opened the rear gate to the courtyard and helped me back in. "Muy gigante," he said, looking at the truck.  "Y muy sucio! (dirty),"  I answered.  He didn't seem to mind.

The truck and contents (including passengers) were covered with a thick layer of fine altiplano dust.  After we started spilling out, the duena quickly greeted us. We all noticed right away that the warm air that smelled delicious. Orange blossoms and flowers. What a nice complement to an adequate concentration of oxygen! 

The next morning we asked a few more questions at breakfast, and Greta (Danish ancestry) told us that we were a mere 100 meters from the public thermal baths, so that aspect of our visit was set. The laundromat was at the other end of town, so that would require a trip in the filthy car. She agreed to ask the "boy" next door if he wanted to wash our truck, but he turned out to be "not around."  He must have seen the truck.  Eventually I resorted to dry-wiping out the bed with a hotel towel, which removed 90% of the dirt so now it's just very dirty and not so filthy you can't even stand to look at it anymore. I should probably offer to pay for the towel.

Pica is popular with day-tripping residents of Iquique, who arrive by the busload in early afternoon, bathe in the thermal baths, enjoy a late afternoon drink (fresh natural juices from locally grown fruit, or of course beer and/or pisco sours), and then take the bus back home. After observing this phenomenon yesterday, we opted for early evening and late-morning trips to the thermal baths. 

There isn't much more to say. Lynn conducted long school sessions both yesterday and today, we got our laundry done, enjoyed soaking and playing in the thermal baths, and drank a lot of fresh fruit juice. Oasis.  Do we really want to leave so soon?

Calle Ibañez in Pica

Hostel Cafe Suizo

This Oasis hummingbird (really) likes the orange blossoms in the courtyard of Cafe Suizo as much as we do.

Entrance to the thermal baths ("termas") in Pica.

Enjoying the termas.

Tomorrow, Thursday, we head for Calama for a two night stop on our way to San Pedro de Atacama (where we'll stay for a whole week!).  I think we're planning on visiting a copper mine near Calama on Friday. I'll find out soon enough. 

-Rolf