Facing the Pacific and a Tsunami Warning!

Taking up residence facing the Pacific during a Tsunami Warning is by most standards a little foolish. Yet speaking with friend Fernando Jauregui, who lives in Chile; he matter-of-factly stated the ground always shakes a bit in his part of the world. It was his nonchalance that prompted me to carry on with plans for writing a second book while being plied with Chilean wine and seafood.

Daily in the cool of first and last light, I walk the Rio Lluta bird sanctuary just north of the Beach House Inn where I have a cabana with a sea-facing wall of windows making the best of an incredible view. A brisk conversation in a morning breeze with a birder provided much insight; 106 types of birds reported using the sanctuary with 35 rare species counted in that number. He mentioned that this spot is critical for migrating birds as there are few sanctuaries in the Atacama Desert. I've seen this fellow multiple times now, only in the morning and always with a pair of binoculars and notebook. I like chatting with birders. They are caretakers with a keen eye for detail and when approached prove to be a great source of knowledge. We now chat every morning.

As the heat comes on, the marine haze dissipates and birds disappear. It is as well my time to hide in the shadows and produce lines that I then send to my book designer who attempts to make sense of images, stories and travel information provided. I am here a week now. Happy to report, we are making great progress and early results are looking good!

Well, it happened!!! A ripple, an undulation went through the cabana! Whoooaaaa! The floor surged and the walls flapped. Without thinking I picked up my wine glass so as not to spill a drop of the chilled Cousino-Macul Cabernet-Sauvignon Gray I'd been drinking. And a split second later it dawned on me that this was a swell in the mantle, seismic activity! My one word reaction was, "WWOWWWW!" Then back to writing and in another 10 minutes yet another surge! Hahaha! Great! Didn't spill and the sandwich stayed on the plate. Things are just fine... Other guests had left their cabanas and were making sense of things. But they are Chileans and made of steady stuff. With a shrug they all returned to their rooms to avoid the searing Atacama sun... Really nothing for me to do but pour another glass and return to writing as we face the Pacific and a tsunami warning... together.

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