First I went with some FASIC friends to a march of the Aymara people (Andean indigenous that live in Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile). There was great Andean music—flute, drum, churango, guitar. The parade ended at a plaza where everyone started dancing. And everyone includes me. They took everyone in the small audience out to join the dancing, so I got to do
some Andean dancing with a series of Andean women. Wish I had a picture of that one. Here's me with the Aymara woman I danced with.Then I headed to a pub/bar that had “the best of Latin rock” playing live. That would be a group of local college-age kids playing rock/pop. They were fine, and I enjoyed hearing some live music. Their best song was actually a Los Bunkers cover. I drank just one “piscola”--a mix of cola and pisco—the national liquor which is made from grapes but similar to a tequila. Left about 1:15am.
Next I headed to Habana, a “salsateca” that was blasting great Cuban music. I knew I wouldn’t/couldn’t dance, but salsa is great for listening and watching. Turns out not many people were dancing. But I did have one of the best (and certainly the strongest) mojitas I have ever had. It was made with Havana Club rum, which the guy told me is from Cuba (and therefore wouldn’t be available in the US). Definitely not like the Barcadi I have back home. I stayed at this bar until 2:45am, partly because the music was so great and partly because even without finishing the one mojita I ordered, I wasn’t totally sure I could walk a straight line out the door (goes to show how seldom I drink). When I did leave, the place was just starting to fill up. I guess Arica is one of those places that parties into the morning. Maybe next time Amy will be with me and we can dance and stay later.
