My fellow Calama buddies and I decided to take you on a tour of Calamaland. This cool fellow greets everyone as they leave the airport.
Speaking of the airport....
I can't brag about air quality in Calama. Below is a photo of the government run mine called Chuquicamata with a claim as the largest open-pit mine in the world. "Contemporary" construction began in 1911. It spews sulfur dioxide but the wind is generally blowing away from town -- whew! Because the mine is run by the government and because it is so old, it isn't required to follow the same environmental standards as newer mines. Chuqi is about 20 miles outside of Calama and employs quite possibly around 10,000 Calamenos. Calama's population is around 150,000. The elevation here is approximately 7500 ft.
Here is a photo of our favorite restaurant -- Patagonia. Great steaks!
The statue of Christ in the background was erected in September 2008 -- just before our arrival. You'll notice the artistic attempt here with the beer bottles in the foreground.
We visited one of the cemeteries -- interesting. There are flower vendors just outside the entrance. Families visit the cemetery on weekends and always bring flowers.
Here we were out on the town and ran into Jorge (left, who takes care of all the plumbing needs) and Alfonso (who takes care of any electrical problems where we live.) That is Odessa on the left and Tracey on the right.
A fountain along the pedestrian walkway.
La Iglesia Catedral San Jaun Bautista built in the early 1900s and remodeled in 2000.
We ran into a friend of Odessa's -- we're feeling pretty tall here....
Tracey and me heading to the Feria Modelo.
Here we are at the entrance to the Feria Modelo which is an indoor market where you can purchase almost anything.
The Bookstore!
Anything and everything!
The plastic products tienda.
We couldn't find any pants long enough....
In addition to the Feria Modelo, there is a traveling fruits and vegetables market that moves to different neighborhoods within Calama. This photos shows Odessa, Tracey and Betsy, another of Odessa's friends. Odessa has been in Calama starting on her 6th year -- she knows everyone!
Here we are at the meat store. Tracey was buying a bone for her dog. By the way, I don't buy my meat here.
So, the best place for purchasing fruits and vegetables is the Feria Modelo and the traveling Feria but for grocery shopping -- we go to Lider! We park in the underground garage (which is always a tad uncomfortable because I think we have too many earthquakes (Calamenos call them "tremblers" which I think to them is anything less than a 6.0!). Anyway, we park and then jump on the moving sidewalk taking us up to the grocery store. These walkways are magnetized so you don't have to worry about your full cart rolling on your way back to your car.
FYI: this is where we buy our meat. You are to tip the young people who bag your groceries. We've heard that Safeway is somehow associated with Lider which may explain why we're seeing so many Safeway brand products on the shelves -- woohoo -- chocolate chips and marshmallows! I'm so easily pleased these days....
The circus came to town -- always blowing dust. No we didn't go.
Here we are at the meat store. Tracey was buying a bone for her dog. By the way, I don't buy my meat here.
So, the best place for purchasing fruits and vegetables is the Feria Modelo and the traveling Feria but for grocery shopping -- we go to Lider! We park in the underground garage (which is always a tad uncomfortable because I think we have too many earthquakes (Calamenos call them "tremblers" which I think to them is anything less than a 6.0!). Anyway, we park and then jump on the moving sidewalk taking us up to the grocery store. These walkways are magnetized so you don't have to worry about your full cart rolling on your way back to your car.
FYI: this is where we buy our meat. You are to tip the young people who bag your groceries. We've heard that Safeway is somehow associated with Lider which may explain why we're seeing so many Safeway brand products on the shelves -- woohoo -- chocolate chips and marshmallows! I'm so easily pleased these days....
The circus came to town -- always blowing dust. No we didn't go.
Our niece Dawson sent Flat Stanley to visit us and as we were taking him on a tour of town, school had just let out. I rolled down the window and started waving at the kids -- they loved having their picture taken! All of the schools, public or private, require students to wear uniforms.
There is a food court in the mall (where Lider is located) and this is Kentucky Fried Chicken -- chicken strips and fries -- ummmmm! The dollar amount you see is Chilean pesos so $1,690 pesos is around $3.00.
Here we are returning home.
Here is an aerial photo (compliments of Odessa) of the El Abra Condominiums. Our house is the third one from the left in the back row. There is a small river (Rio Loa) that flows by the Condominiums providing irrigation for ... corn fields!
Here we are returning home.
Here is an aerial photo (compliments of Odessa) of the El Abra Condominiums. Our house is the third one from the left in the back row. There is a small river (Rio Loa) that flows by the Condominiums providing irrigation for ... corn fields!
