Antofagasta, my city in Chile, is defined by its coast.
Although there are beaches scattered along the inlets of the coastline, there are no natural beaches, just rocks:
Near the center, there's a pleasant paved walkway, dotted with sculptures and pedestrians. It's not really populated or touristy enough to be called a boardwalk, but in my mind it's the latinoamericano version of the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, where I once lived in France.
Certain parts of the coastline south of the city lend themselves to algae-covered tidal pools:
If you look closely, you can find all manners of anemones and starfish
Shells are in no short supply near these pools. In some places you can find a natural sort of "beach," where dunes of tiny shells take the place of sand.
North of the city is the more commercial part of the coast, with a small harbor and a fish market. Some Chilean friends brought me here on a Sunday morning, post-party, to indulge in a fresh cup of their favorite hangover remedy: ceviche! or white fish "cooked" in an acidic sauce of lemon juice, with some peppery pebre and herbs thrown in for good measure. It also comes in a more varied mariscos version, featuring all manners of raw things from shells, but after a long night of caretes (chilean slang: partying) my stomach wasn't feeling quite adventurous).
A few lomo del mar (sea lions) lurk around the fish market dock at any given moment, hoping for scraps or handouts from fisherman or doting customers.
i can haz feesh plz? kthxbai!
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