Dwindling ozone layer is apparent..........

The guide books mentioned that sunscreen is a good idea here as the ozone layer is much thinner than in the northern hemisphere. One can feel it as walking around the marketplaces and streets a pink tint begins to appear on the skin. I don't think sunscreen is a big seller here and that people, mostly dark-skinned, of course, manage their "sun" time. We have been using sunscreen on our face but by the end of yesterday and today a healthy-looking glow is beginning to develop. Not a bad thing, considering that we both were sporting the pasty winter-whites. Happily, this one is not a lesson that's been hard learned. Our dinner at Mestizo (not Mephisto as I mentioned yesterday) last night was nothing short of spectacular. Chilean sea bass for Maggie and grouper for me (apparently, also another Chilean specialty) were simply perfection. A beautiful location beside a park and as we sat on the terrace the black-necked swans wended their way around in the lily and wild grassed ponds right beside us. I didn't take my camera and have now decided that it is best not to leave it behind at all as one never knows when the greatest photo op will appear. This was one........... We went today to Pueblitos Los Dominicos, a "village" on the site of an old Dominican monastery that houses over 200 artisans and crafts people and throughout has wonderful displays of cockatoos and other live birds. It was a delightful way to spend a Sunday in a city where many other activities are closed. A lot of walking and a lot of sun so we have come back to our hotel to rest before dinner and hopefully have an early night before our 8:00 departure for the Andes in the morning. I will try to find some better shots to include in the Andes blog. xoxo