This morning we rose late and wandered into the clubhouse. It was eerily quiet. There was no one about and no noise from the street. We phoned the dentist to book an appointment, one of Franco’s implant caps has fallen out and it needs screwing back in. No answer. I called the opticians, to check whether my glasses had been fixed. No answer. We checked the calendar - Tuesday, not a bank holiday. What was going on? 

In town, the streets were deserted. Where had all the people gone? We reached the bridge without meeting a soul. I was beginning to wonder, could my last ‘spoof’ post have come true? Had Valdivia been taken over? 

Ahead were piles of bodies.

The bodies

A sea lion turned to look at us with his watery eyes: “It’s census day, you dopes!”

Census Day in Chile is a big deal, everyone has to stay home to be counted. The shops are shut, buses don’t run and only a skeleton staff are on duty for essential services. Just like Nazareth in the good old days!