Iquique, Chile

Iquique (Spanish pronunciation: i'kike) is a port city in northern Chile. We arrived a little before daylight and took our time getting off the ship. A shuttle took us into town and dropped us off at the main square. I was there in 2023 on a Sunday and it looked pretty much abandoned except for the fish market at the pier. 

 

view from our deck

 

However, today being a week day, everything was bustling. The regular businesses were open and street vendors were set up on both sides of the streets surrounding the square. We walked about 3 blocks down to the pier where the fishermen bring in their daily catch. The local fishermen are at it 7 days a week.

 

 

today's catch

 

seals wait patiently for scraps

ready and waiting

I have to say there is more bird poop around the pier than anywhere we've ever been. Everything is literally covered in it! Not so much in town, but around the port and fishing pier. This is the reason.

 

 

From the pier, we walked back toward the central part of town. We browsed in a grocery store and picked up some treats for our room stewards, Jose (Honduras) and Keno (Jamaica). Naturally I snapped a few random photos as I walked.

 

really?

  

 

this never fails to amaze me

It's interesting to see what the ideal body shape is in other countries. For instance, in the US, we're used to seeing store mannequins model or pencil thin without much shape on top or bottom. However, that's not everyone's idea of the perfect female body shape. We've noticed that in Brazil and Chile, their "ideal" for women is much bustier in front and curvier in back. Even the mannequins reflect their taste.

 

street vendors set up mannequins

 

private fishing boats sit idle at pier

seems everyone has something to sell

Iquique town center

typical street scene

Iquique - 1 of only 2 free ports of Chile