Lota

   This is a former mining town on the Pacific coast. Here I saw the ocean so close for the first time. Everything in the city reminds of the mining past. Monuments with minecarts at every corner. Typical buildings of mining houses, barracks, where people still live. The city has two levels. .Upper and lower.

   Quite symbolically, the Virgin Mary stands over the lower city with outstretched arms, as if embracing and blessing him.

   The city looks very poor, crumbling houses speak volumes about the prosperity of local residents. After the closure of the mine, there is little work here.

   The main attraction of Lot is a park of French landscape design with a mansion of coal magnates of the 19th century. Actually, the park was a subsidiary of the tycoon’s wife. The park is located on the Pacific Ocean, on a hill, from where you can enjoy stunning views of the ocean and the Bay of Lot. The park grows different types of trees and shrubs. Alleys with fountains, ponds with ducks, greenhouses, sculptures, an aviary with peacocks, observation platforms. A tomb with a grotto and a fountain. A picturesque place with a lighthouse. A mine where you can go down as part of the excursion.

   A ticket to the park costs 1200 pesos (about 110 rubles).

   Lot also has an ethnographic museum dedicated to the life of miners. A reconstructed mining village with houses, a shop and a yard. You can also go down to the mine. The mine is called “Devil’s Breath”, because. the only naturally ventilated one. In houses you can see the life and belongings of the inhabitants. In the grocery store of that time. In the courtyard you can see how children spent time, there is also an oven. You can imagine the life of people in cramped rooms and hard work.

   The cost of 1000 pesos (about 100 rubles). Only on this day the mine was closed for maintenance, and we were not able to visit it.

   Then we had to walk along the beach and finally see the ocean up close and even touch. The ocean temperature is always kept in the region of 12-14 degrees. In the Chilean spring, in October, the ocean was cold, but all the locals, including children, swam. there are mountains of small molluscs that the locals collect and eat with lemon.

   The day was sunny, and walking barefoot along the beach was a real pleasure.