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Next day up early to catch the bus to Curanipe, the most amazing sight is rush hour in the morning you have never seen so many buses. The roads are better regulated in Chile and the vehicles are in much better condition in Santiago. The primary form of transport is the bus and they are very cheap. We travelled 400 kilometres on a bus for $5 NZ and it took 6 hours stopping every couple of hours for people to get off to buy food stretch there legs. All along the way vendors got onto the bus with food to sell. Tita warned us not to buy the food as the makers may not have basic hygiene. After one bout of food poisoning we were not in a hurry to get another. It was a great bus trip, passing through the miles of market gardens.

First stop, Rancagua, next stop Caquenes. This was something else, horses and carts everywhere, so different to Santiago.

Next stop Pichlemu. The Bus Driver returned to the coach with strawberries for us. These people are so kind.

As the bus travelled into Curanipe a man waved the bus down and as we drew near we recognised the person as Varinia’s father whom we had seen in a photograph. This was Helmet our host and guide of the next 6 days. Rhondda was pleased because we were to have our own house to live in, beside the beach. We met the three dogs and walked into the village, what a quaint town just like in the movies horse and carts people gathered on the corners having a chat. In the bars the fisherman playing cards and drinking red wine.

This is the main street and only street with shops. 

There are street vendors selling vegetables on the corner

As this was a fishing village at the point in the bay was this Saint Peter Looking out to sea with his flag waving. The little monuments were for those that had lost their lives at sea. 

Rhondda could not believe her eyes when we saw the fishing boats being put out to sea by bullocks. The boats themselves were fibreglass and loaded with nets, the bullocks had a hard job dragging the boats across the sand. The teamster used a stick to control the bullocks. The bullocks were controlled by being tapped on one side or the other.

The boats were gaily painted in bright colours. 

The fishermen worked at a leisurely pace preparing the nets and boats.

The bullocks were very placid. In the background is another boat waiting to be towed across the sand to sea.

The boat is connected to the bullocks by a chain.

These boats are fibre glass and very heavy.

The bullocks have to stop every so often.

Once the boat hits the surf it all happens quickly.