So there I was yesterday writing about the fault line that runs down the Chile coast. What happened that evening? An earthquake 5.9 shook the house for about 8 seconds. I'd gone to bed leaving Chris in the lounge when the bed started moving and the walls shook. Earlier in the evening, a couple of times I had said to Chris that the settee had moved against my back but he hadn't felt anything so I thought it my imagination. It seems these were minor tremors. After it stopped I shouted out to Chris "Did the earth move for you this time". It was an amazing experience. There were further aftershocks that kept jogging the bed which was a bit unsettling.

The next day was quiet and later in the afternoon Chris rang his mum at home as it was her birthday (St.Georges Day). Just as he started speaking the room started to shake again and he says "hang on mum it's an earthquake"! This time it was only 5.6 and we were just about to jump under the table! It seems there were about 10 earthquakes in this area in 24 hours. We have decided not to go on the beach for the next couple of days until it settles down! The threat of tsunami somehow feels more real now.

24/4/17

OK so now it gets serious, we have just experienced a 7.1 and it is really scarey! I was cooking dinner (with a gas stove) and then there was a roaring noise and the kitchen shook violently. Chris shouted "every one out", but all I could think of was the gas and turning it off! So I turned to do it, then was afraid to run through the house so just stood in a doorway holding on right against the wall and just watching the ceiling in case it fell. It seemed to go on forever, but gradually died out. Then I ran outside! Not long after we had another about 5ish that shook the house again. Now we are getting small shocks that rock the floor every now and then. It seems this series of events is very unusual in that the quakes are getting bigger not smaller. I really hope that was the last big one. A few minutes after the main shock we had a tsunami warning and everyone's phone's started bleeping warning people to get away from the coast. Luckily it doesn't affect us here as we are high up overlooking the sea (but still very close).

25/4/17

20 earthquakes in 24 hours. The 7.1 has been revised to a 6.9. Everyone here is still expecting a 'big' one and most people have moved to higher ground. Although as I sit on the verandah looking out over a calm sea in glorious sunshine it seems so hard to believe that the situation can change so quickly away from this peaceful scene.

27/4/17

The last couple of days have been interesting. There have been more quakes, some of them quite strong where they move the house from side to side. One or two are very sudden and loud and only last for a few seconds. There was a fairly big one yesterday and three more during the night which Chris nearly slept through but I thought I had better wake him in case we had to move to the doorway. As soon as I woke him though it calmed down so no panic. It stays quiet for a long while and you think everything is settling down then suddenly the house moves around you. In a way it is almost a relief once it happens and stops as it seems as if you are forever waiting for the other shoe to drop! Aside from earthquakes life goes on as normal here, tomorrow we are going to Valparaiso for a couple of days to see this old town further up the coast as we only have another week here before we head inland to Argentina.

28/4/17

Arrived in Valparaiso a few hours ago and now eating a meal in this fascinating town. The old area of town has lots of wall art murals on the street buildings, everyone was more colourful than the last so lots of pictures. So far today there have been 21 earthquakes, the biggest 5.9 which was at the house just before we left at lunch time. Nobody here turns a hair, me I run for the doorway!