Photos from Arica, Chile

Here Sergio is checking out Arica, a green oasis in the middle of the driest desert in the world, the Atacama. Driving seven hours through southern Peru and northern Chile, it's hard to understand that they both wanted that unforgiving terrain at one point. 

Sergio and I went to Arica's bluff, a meaningful place both for Peruvians and for Chileans in the War of the Pacific between the two countries that took place in the late 1800s. Here, Chileans claim a grand victory (hence the gigantic Chilean flag). Peruvians claim a bitter loss and a heroic event, when military commander Alfonso Ugarte threw himself from this same bluff into the sea to save the Peruvian flag from being burned.

Sergio eating pichanga, a delicious Chilean dish with sausage, chicken, beef, hot dog and onions all sauteed in a delicious soy-based sauce. Below are the french fries. To the right is Chile's loathed beer, Escudo, which they nickname escupo (spit). To the left is a Pisco Sour a la chilena. Sergio did admit that it wasn't bad, even though it's traditionally a Peruvian drink.