We were up bright and early, had a quick dining room brekkie and then we were off to see Arica. It used to be called the City of Eternal Spring due to its year round moderate climate - but as the rest of the world seemingly heats up, the Arica dwellers have actually experienced the cold - down to 9 degrees this past winter - freezing for them.

Funny story, the guide on the coach reckoned that 90% of people who live in Arica (and have never left to see anywhere else) have never held an umbrella in their hands - except to protect from the sun - that is how little rain they get here.

Our first stop was a lack-lustre craft market with not a lot of shops open, but good for a leg stretch. One might think Covid didn't wreck business enough given that this tour is the 'included' option for 3000 passengers with wallets keen for an outing - and barely half a dozen shops could be bothered opening 'early' at 10 am. Ah well… not as though we needed anything. Then we were back on the coach and off to the geoglyphs - stone drawings on hill sides - used for directions (they think… more is unknown than known about these pictures). These are smaller and less well known versions of Peru's Nazcar lines. They are created on the sides of hills by one of two methods. Some are additions - the mosaic technique where the image is created with rocks. The others are subtractions - where the image is scratched into the side of the hills. What are they pictures of? Mainly men and llamas. Priorities eh.

The final stop was the Morro de Arica or the big rock which is the highlight of the port. We saw the Cristo de la Paz which was erected in 1989 - iron on the inside, bronze on the outside. Like a very small Christ the Redeemer. We also saw in the distance a church designed by Eiffel - that bloke got around. We were supposed to visit it during the tour but afterall - this is the MSC Magnifican't

We travelled back to the ship via the seafront highway, saw a couple of beaches. Once back on the ship, having lost 95% of the bus passengers at the port entrance (they were off to town for a walk, or the beach for a bake), we had a nice lunch at the stern. The peaceful, far-distant and thus reasonably non-feral end of the buffet. We then headed to the spa for a jacuzzi. We both had a day off the gym today and still managed 8000 steps just getting around the ship. The heat and blazing sun (and the desert atmosphere) must have really taken it out of us as we were both on the verge of falling asleep in the spa's relaxation area so we returned to the cabin for an actual sleep - dead to the world for an hour, very lucky we had an alarm set. It was the best dinner of the cruise so far - Caesar Salad to start - somewhat average beef and mushroom concoction, but it was on top of spatzle - a German sort of pasta which was luscious and asiago risotto with walnuts - also delish. Show tonight was Musica in Maschera, Tango Dancing and more. Took a stroll around the promenade on Deck 7. Hit the sack once more. Next stop? Callao (Lima), Peru. Apparently.