Finally after being here a week, we made it to the beach, la playa. It was a long walk but thankfully, all downhill.

We were all set to be in a crowded mix but when we got there it was nearly deserted. 

The fog that blankets the whole town each morning didn't burn off until 3:00 yesterday and it was 5:00 before people started pouring onto the beach. But suddenly groups of 20 or 30 appeared out of nowhere like the whole city had been turned on end and everyone was tumbling out.

The beach must be at least 12 miles long, laying like a necklace along the bay between the cities of La Serena and Coquimbo. By 7pm it was a mass of colorful umbrellas and suimsuits. It doesn't seem warm enough for swimming, but a few were out there, braving the Humboldt cold. It's odd because we're in the desert (it rained a whole 3 days last year) but it isn't hot. I'm told if you want to find hot beaches you have to go elsewhere, but these are really clean. They work very hard keeping the beach area clean, safe and free of debris.

We'd been down here after dark a few days before and there were such hoards of people then that there were no parking spaces and hardly any for standing.

It REALLY comes alive at night.