Monday 30 April 2018 in Los Vilos - 1130hrs

Make no mistake about it, when cafes see you coming in Los Vilos they adjust their prices up for tourists - I just spent 5,500 pesos (about NZD$12.00) for a ham toasted sandwich and a medium cup of coffee - I expected to pay around 3,500 pesos (about NZD$8.00). I've so far only struck this in Los Vilos and hope it's the exception.
I was going to post a link to my next accommodation in Coquimbo, (EDIFICIO COSTA PEÑUELAS) but my blog is public and it could lead to me being targeted by hawkers and others so I'll leave it out - it looks like the place I stayed at in Valpo (a modern high rise apartment with good facilities and hopefully hotter water than here!). At NZD$30 per night it's only NZD$13 per night dearer than this dorm accommodation, which they want me to pay USD$22 per night from tomorrow - not going to happen! I've booked my Pullman Bus from here departing 1330 Tuesday for the 4 hour trip North (7,000 pesos - NZD$15.00). The coaches have beds you can book if you want to travel long distances overnight, but I prefer to travel during the day so I can see the view - I book a recliner that is similar to a "Lazy Boy" lounger.
My plan is to stay 3 nights in Coquimbo and then head inland to Vicuna where access to the observatories is easier. I have one picked out that does tours in English and has a massive 63cm telescope which is state of the art, apparently. Hopefully the full moon will be waning by then as they don't do tours 5 days either side of it - I'll check Google and stay longer around La Serena if I need to.
I haven't been able to find out much about the "Elephant" sculpture which is close to my digs here and I walk past it when I take that route into town but part of the marble plaque on it is missing and anyway it's only in Spanish so I'd be none the wiser. My guess is it was excavated from somewhere around here (as Anne suggested).
There is a large copper exporting port here, just across the bay from the town, but I haven't seen any ships loading while I've been here - it looks like they load bulk ore going to a smelter as it has that kind of infrastructure (conveyors).
My mobile phone ran out of credit yesterday and so far I haven't been able to recharge it - I can get to the Movistar web site and even find the plan I want but can't work out how to buy it. I hope the host here, who speaks a smattering of English may be able to help. Thankfully I still have the laptop and access to Wi-Fi but I'm missing my Google Maps and language translator apps which I use all the time. The maps app in particular has ensured the taxi drivers get me to my destinations by the most direct route (they sometimes seem to try circuitous routes but I can usually make myself understood by pointing out the correct turns to take according to the GPS).
A lost puppy's life here must be a sad one - this little guy in Valpo was separated from his mother and all alone at night on a busy street, looking for some kind soul to take pity on him and take him home for a warm bed and some food. I couldn't, of course, but hopefully some local did!