Pichilemu

In Valdivia we realized that Chile is very long, we have to change gear and speed up a bit, otherwise we will stay in the South until August! So we quickly take the decision to do an all day long bus trip and reach Pichilemu, right on the ocean, and greet Martin. Leaving definitely behind the rain and the wild Patagonia.

Pichilemu means "small forest" in the native language and originally the inhabitants lived fishing and harvesting. At the end of 1800 it became a seaside resort thanks to Don Agustín Ross Edwards that began the construction of important architectural works, such as the Ross Park, declared National Monument in the 1988. Inside it there is the Centro Cultural Agustín Ross, formerly known as Casino Ross, one of the first ones opened in Chile. After being used across the time as a post office, shop, hotel and disco, today hosts the city library.

Ps: Here you can see us in a relaxed version, combed, dressed decently and I also have a bag instead of the backpack! The air of Pichilemu has transformed us, we slept for two days and now we feel on holiday. No no, what you have read until now it was not "holiday" but an intense travel.

But the main attraction of the country are its spectacular waves, and in a short time Pichilemu becomes a cult place for surfers all over the world, with its three main beaches: La Puntilla, Infernillo and Punta de Lobos. Just the names are pretty catchy!

We are staying at the Hostal Kuyen as recommended by Martin and we find a great atmosphere: guys on a trip or on holiday who cook together, play guitar, chat, laugh. The owner, José, is Chilean, married to an Italian girl, and he happily entertains us with the desire to improve his Italian. We feel at home and we take our out time to relax.

The village is small, but full of stalls with handmade products and the waterfront is provided with many kiosks that offer fresh food and drinks, empanadas and cheviche on the top.

And there are strange characters that it is impossible to not notice.

We go to the beach, where there is an incredible wind, the sand scratch our skin by so hard it hits us, so everyone is provided with small curtains that shelter them from the wind.

We are ready: we decide to face the cold water and the waves. I start slowly, sitting into the shallow water and letting the waves cover me little by little.

A little girl nearby laughs and gives me her hand: "Vamos un poco mas allà", let's go a little further, she says, you have to skip the wave! Despite the cold water I follow her and her laughs steal my heart. She runs with her tanned legs and we fall all the time in the waves, she hangs to my arm for not being taken away. In the underflow of the waves we also clash with other people, a weave of legs and arms that you don't know where you are, and I lose my swimsuit, -You're all naked- she laughs, -look at the sand on your face- the little Antonia says to me .
She tells me that she goes to school, she likes to go to the sea on Sundays and she has just dropped a tooth... And so we continue until her aunt comes to pick her up, apologizing for her intrusiveness and the game ends. What a good time! I found sand all over me for days even after many showers!

The photos are of the author.



Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agust%C3%ADn_Ross_Cultural_Centre
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pichilemu
https://www.visitchile.com/en/pichilemu/