A highlight of Valparaíso was getting to see the Pacific Ocean. Before this trip, I had never seen it in person, and while I had seen it quite a bit on the shores of Easter Island earlier in the week, it felt completely different here. In Valparaíso, the ocean stretched out below steep, cold where easter island had been warm and filled with giant ships of industry. Unlike the rocky beaches of easter island, here the waves crashed against sandy shore. Somehow it all came together to make the Ocean feel much bigger.

Standing there, watching the water and the gulls circling above, it hit me just how far from home I really was. While we wandered around this beach some members of our group got ice cream at a nearby stand. I made the mistake of taking my socks and shoes off and getting my feet covered in wet sand. Here’s a short clip of the ocean that I recorded that afternoon—just the sound, but it carries the peaceful vibe.

This contrasted heavily with the vibes on Easter Island There, the beaches felt untouched and remote, surrounded by volcanic rock and framed by palm trees and rolling green hills. The water was warmer and unbelievably clear. Instead of shipping containers and busy roads, there were ancient Moai statues watching quietly from the shore. In the water there were turtles and fish swimming right alongside you. The Pacific felt softer there—more intimate.