Some 
delicate 
little 
cactus 
flowers.

More Churches

Iglesa Nuestra Senora de Rosario. Pisco Elqui.

A small church populated by a sparse collection of worshippers. Geometric stained glass windows in blue, red, yellow and green; would have cast illuminated light on the audience had the sun been out. A dog with mixed parentage, Basset Hound recognisable, had a quilt of tan and black  markings patterned over his white low riding body. He sniffs the font filled with holy water, but his height determines it's unavailability.

Guilded statues of Mary and Jesus and other saints populate the side walls, each with their own towering and slightly chipped gothic canopy.

The dog sits beside me and looks hopeful. I stroke his long brown velvet ears.

The priest walks to his alter and kisses the cloth, the book. He has a Madonna microphone clasped to his head. The sound is muffled and slightly distorted.

The dog is lying down. Dreaming. Twitching imagining I'm not sure what.

The congregation stands, kneels, sits, stands, kneels, sings, gives offerings to the two children holding red satin bags. The priest moves down the centre aisle, talking, gesturing with open palms, gently making eye contact with his flock.

The patchwork dog wakes, stretches and moves to the end of the pew. The old man with the hat shoos him irritably and moves it along with a small kick.

The people stand, ready for communion, the wine, the wafers.

The dog and I discreetly make our exit and sit amongst the trees in the Plaza.

Elqui Valley Vista

The road to Pisco Elqui in the Elqui Valley

a view from the bus window on the way to the wee Pueblo of Pisco Elqui (an hour or so in from Vicuna). This valley is famous for its grape growing for that traditional Chilean drink. The vines had shut down for winter, so can only imagine how lush and green the valley would look in spring and summer.
Tried my first Pisco Sour the first night i was there. Don't know what he used to measure it, but i sure had a glow on and a little bit of a stagger on the way home.
Second night was just the same.

postcard from Cafe Frida

Cafe Frida, Vicuna, Chile.

i literally stumbled across this cute little cafe, and it became my regular coffee haunt in the four days i stayed in town.
each wall was painted a different colour and lots of prints, clutches of clay masks, and photographs adorned the walls.
between the free wi-fi at the Biblioteque,looking up to the stars at Observatorio Cerra Mamalluca, the amazing breakfast every morning at Hostel Elqui, this little tranquil town was a really nice place to stop and breathe and soak up the sights.

more churches. Vicuna this time

Vicuna, Chile.

Another church, didn't write the name down. But right beside the Plaza de Armas and next door to the Torre Bauer which houses the tourist information office.

Sleepy little town with a population of around 30,000. A gorgeous spot in the famous Elqui Valley, known for its grape growing for Chiles National drink. Pisco.

Close
up.
It's
enough
to
frighten
the
Bejesus
out
of
you.

Postcard from Vicuna

Vicuna, Chile.
The picture doesn't really do the sunset colours of the surrounding hills and mountains justice. i sat in the Plaza de Armas several evenings and watched the light and colour show. Spectacular. reds, pinks, oranges, purples and violets.
Vicuna is gorgeous, tranquil and landed in a really nice little Hostel/Hotel for CLP$8,000 per night. Had a pack of three amigo perros hanging out the front waiting for goodies to come there way. Lots of international observatories here because of the consistently clear night skies and little light pollution.

Vicuna. Chile .Museum of Gabriela Mistral, Latin Americas first Nobel Prize winning poet. 1945.

Excerpt from her poem 'Things"

i stare at it as it stared;

it starts me thinking strangely,

and i play with this water listlessly

as with fish or with mystery.

an aroma ripped to threads arises;

i am very lucky if i sense it;

so thin that it has no aroma,

being but trace of almond trees.