The eve before a storm

I've arrived in Arica. The beginning of my motorcycle adventure through Peru and Chile.

Seventeen 2009 BMW enduros in the car park getting the once over. G650GS, F650GS, F800GS, F1200GS. New oil and filters. Fuel. Chains checked. Impeccably cleaned. Heaven on two wheels.

I go up to check out my gorgeous red G650GS companion (she's in a class of her own so I know she's mine!), and begin to wonder if I should have taken the opportunity to get me a F800GS, then talk myself back into the G650GS. It will be safer for me to ride something I know on the other side of the road. Besides the F800GS's standard seat is a bitch for long trips. Nah, my little G650GS is going to be fine for this adventure. Besides she's going to be perfect meandering through the little streets.

Then I introduce myself and say "holla!" to the busy bees. My tour guide. The mechanic. The truck driver.

What do you know? Solo Espanol is spoken by everybody. No German. No French. No English. I'm sure it said on their website that all these were spoken. Come to think about it, I also read there were only going to be a maximum of 8 people per group. Perhaps there's two groups?? WHO KNOWS! All I can say is this is going to be an interesting next two weeks. But we knew that already - right?

I guess there's no time like the present to learn Spanish. Best go brush up my directions by the pool, maybe con una cerveza!

View from my bedroom. :-)