Chile 20

Quote from the Rough Guide to Chile “The thermal bath complex of Termas de Socas is notable for it's 22c outdoor pool surrounded by palm and eucalyptus trees, wicker armchairs and huge potted ferns, as well as cubicles containing private bathtubs where you can soak in the warm spring water.” This sounded good to me, I was anticipating Mrs Lucas and I frolicking naked in huge vats of hot water or perhaps sharing a hot bath in our swimming cossies.

The reality I am afraid was an unheated swimming pool (a piscina which always worries me, what are they pissing in) and a number of hotel style bathrooms with normal baths which just happen to have hot water from a spring rather than a boiler. We didn't bother, another black mark against the Rough Guide to Chile.

So after that disappointment we visited a small museum dedicated to the local tribes who did a good line in pottery until the Incas wiped them out around 1500. The picture shows a nice pot and some whistles.

This was followed by an excellent lunch in a cafe in Ovalle which was a good spot for people watching. In fact it was so good we went back an hour later for cakes!
We are now staying in a very nice simple hotel next to a vineyard, it has 12 rooms, a swimming pool and lovely gardens and we hope a good restaurant. It also arranges horse riding trips so tomorrow we hope to do what all good tourists to Chile should do, get on horses and pretend to be cowboys.

In the old days when you went on holiday you were completely out of touch of home and after the two or three weeks away you had to catch up on any news. Although we don't use whatsapp or facebook we occasionally get email news from home and it was with great sadness we heard yesterday that Roj Williams had died. Roj is the genius who created our metal fairy sculpture outside the Porch House and the two Wart Hogs in Pound Cottage. He will be greatly missed by us and everyone else in Bishop's Castle.
The picture (pinched from the Shropshire Star) shows him with one of his larger creations.