Puerto Montt, Chiloe, Osorno, 22 de avril, 2013

 I am back from a three day visit to the Lake District of Chile, a two-hour flight south from Santiago. This is not the best time of the year to travel south. This area has 220 wet days annually. It did rain, but not enough to interrupt the visitation, it only diminished the quality of light exposure to photos. The area is heavily influenced by German presence as they began to arrive in the late 1800's. There is also sight of even earlier Jesuit presence. Unlike most Latin churches, which are usually extravegant in decoration, the Jesuit churches are more stoic. Equally well crafted, they are only more simply adorned, particularly inside. The area is also attractive to fish lovers. Chile is the world´s second leading exporter of salmon and I dined on it two of my three days. Loved it.

So, water is everywhere, either the sea or lakes. And, there are volcanoes, 2,000 of them up and down the cordillera. I am not sure how that number is derived, as we viewed one crater that was not much bigger than a sink hole. But, others are easily identifiable and deserving of inclusion.

My first day left me just enough time to get to Puerto Vara, a 20 minuted bus ride north of my stay in Puerto Montt (puerto = port). I had a weather opening that allowed me to take a few photos of Volcan Osorno, with Lago Llanqhuihue below. The volcano is known for its almost perfect cone shape.

The first full day was with a tour that took us to the island of Chiloe .A ferry ride took us from the mainland. We stopped at several villages, almost all on the edge of the sea. In Castro, the capital, was our longest stay to walk about and look. The most interesting to me was one of the Jesuit churches, most impressive due to the impact of the brilliant colors. This one and many others are often covered with sheet metal, I assume as a protective layer against the constant rain on the island. But, it takes a close inspection to distinguish the metal from other material. Another photo point was the palolitos, colorful homes built on stilts to rise above the ocean tides.  Both church and homes are UNESCO sites.

The Sunday after I accompanied a smaller group northward. The weather was less cooperative this day. And the vistas seen were expansive, so between the two obstacles it was difficult to get a true representative photo. Still, the area was beautiful. Continuous green, pastures (the milk industry here is strong) and lakes always nearby. We stopped by one waterfall where water was made turquoise by the minerals present. Next, was to Volcan Osorno, whose summit was hidden by cloud cover. But, the refugio near the top wa open to serve lunch, where I enjoyed by last opportunity to dine on salmon. Rico. We ate, drank Pisco Sour and Chilean wine and talked. Two of the group were Brasileanas, always fun to be around in my experiences. Little by little I understand more of the portuguesa and my fears have weakened to the point I may try that next, but not quite yet. Discussions of food, politics, taxes and cost of living occur in all languages and cultures.

The trip confirmed the travel book commentary on the diversity and beauty of Chile. I still have three weeks here, but even if nothing more occurs, it has been a true delight.

Sails are just like wings

And the wind can make them sing

Songs of life, songs of hope,

Songs to keep your dreams afloat.

Now shores, distant shores

There’s where I’m heading for

Got the stars t guide my way

And sail into the light of day.

I’m gonna build me a boat, with these two hands

It will be a fair curve from a noble plan

Let the chips fall where they will

‘Cause I’ve got boats to build.

(G. Clark)

Santiago, Lucia y Plaza de Armas, 15 avril

Santiago, 15 avril, 2013

This week marks the halfway point of my journey and I remained in Santiago focused on filling holes in my collection of photos and memories.  The first steps were to Cerra Santa Lucia (cerra=hill). This is a central site where Pedro de Valdivia, the father of Chile, planted the beginning of Spanish presence. He and a handful of others, plus his lover, Inez, left Peru for the purpose of spreading spanish influence and perhaps finding gold as well. However, the Mapuche indigenous population, made for a difficult conquest, fiercely challenging the spanish for 300 years. Despite eventual success, it was a cruel endeavor. Pedro himself, after gaining appointment as gobernador, received an ugly end as retribution for the cruel methods used to dominate the Mapuche. He was captured in a final battle, the only survivor, and over a three-day period his skin was ´´removed´´, cooked and eaten before him. When it was obvious he would not last much longer, he was forced to swallow molten gold, a fitting symbolic reward for the spanish lust for gold. The site in Santiago rises fairly high above the central section of the city. From the tower top of a castle constructed in the 1800´s you get great vistas of the city around.

From there I casually returned to the Plaza de Armas, where I was easily entertained for the remainder of the afternoon. Several times I headed for the metro, only to discover another interest which caught my attention and my time. I have included the Plaza in previous blog discussion, so I hope not to repeat myself. Extending out from the plaza itself are pedestrian only malls occupied with various eating spots and small shops. The sunny Saturday collected large numbers to enjoy the day. I easily encountered a dozen street performers, each trying to attract a few monedas for their performance. Musicians included an opera singer, a 3-piece guitar group playing BB King, a horn ensemble, many different drum groups beat their rhythms, including more than one that tied their drums to their backs and beat with long flexible sticks while they danced and spun around. Impressive. One singer was selling her CDs after each song, and people danced salsa when she did sing. Jugglers, clowns, gymnists and colorful mimes centered among the interested viewers.

My favorite was a puppet show that enchanted the children standing in front. Screams of surprise, scare and joy responded to each appearance of the puppets. Alas, there was no Kermit or Miss Piggy. But, there is nothing comparable to the fixation of wonder or laugh on a child’s face. Absolutamente nada.

From there you cold wander and listen to the sidewalk preachers or watch the artists painting portraits, or the vendors selling candy and ice cream, balloons and toys.  Or, you could wait your turn to play chess at one of the 20 or so tables set-up under the gazeba. But, whether by custom or rule, no women. And, as noted, all the malls were set with tables where you could people watch while you enjoyed a glass of wine, a beer or a coffee. It was indeed a good day to walk in the campo.

There is nothing as dark as night

But nothing so strong as light

And here is the choice

Let it burn out or bright

In a world where the fear and force

Have buried the silent source

Can you deny the need for a light like yours

No fast pace, no jaded attitude

Can erase all of the good you do.

If someone has left his wrath

On everything in his path

Taking the wealth and leaving his trash behind

Will you be peace or can you at last decide there is noone to fight

We are the same inside, so go on and get some rest

There’s many more miles and tests

All about love

What if it comes to be all that we have left

No dark place, no debt, and no abuse

Can erase all of the good you do. (C. Kane)

Santiago and Valparaiso, 8 avril, 2013

Santiago and Valparaiso, 8 Avril , 2013

Two stories to tell. The first describes a short tour with other students to Valparaiso, the second largest port in Chile. To describe it is to combine similarities with the hillside overlook of San Francisco, with a bit of the colorful architecture of New Orleans. The direction of the streets seems to fit the contours of the hills, adding to the appearance of houses and shops leaning over to inspect and evaluate your worth. Perhaps the homes do lean a bit due to the severity of prior earthquakes. But, repair was rapid and I saw little evidence. Colorful murals on the walls are found frequently as one takes a turn around the corner, to view some interpretive display. As noted, the harbor attracts tankers from all over the world, several were lined up waiting for their turn to load or unload.  The water appears clean due to the intensity of blue and green reflected toward the hillside overlooks. Here and there are massive sea lions mounted on various structures in the bay. Funiculars, like ski trams, are in several locations for those wishing to avoid climbing the streets. Numerous green parks and statues of heroic figures are found at lower elevations. To my delight and dismay many shops of artisans attract my attention, but we have no time for me to inspect adequately. But less than two hours away, I hope to get in another visit before departing from Chile.
Second part concerns my family. I have attended birthdays, a wedding, anniversaries, social events, Easter mass during my visits. I have not experienced a birth. But, this weekend the ultimate occurred, with the sudden death of my Chilean father. I have several skills and abilities, but confidence with what to do in these situations is lacking. But, I guess my placement was somewhat fortuitous. Walter is from Holland originally and had family in Europe and US, but they speak no Spanish. My family speaks little English, so I became the interpreter and bearer of the sad news to his family of origin. The service was as quick as the death. He passed on Saturday, service was on Sunday, and cremation occurs Monday. The process interested me as after the service his body was lowered into the ground, though not covered, to rest overnight. Then the day of cremation he will be raised and cremated. The idea of returning to the earth, even if only symbolically, appeals to me as part of the completion of our cycle, regardless of belief.

This morning as I walked to school, the weekend event was on my mind. My mother, despite my plea, got up to prepare me breakfast. She was on my mind as I walked to school. Sidewalks are full of people walking or biking to their destinations on weekday mornings. The day, climatically was hinting at a bright, cheerful, sunny day. However, as almost always, the people hurry toward work or school, expressionless. An ambulance rushes by as I wonder what occupies their minds, while life itself might go as quickly by. Then, coincidentally, perhaps, a young man comes in my direction, also with some indication of preoccupation, and as he closes in he crosses himself, as if in church. For me or himself?

Be kind to my memory when you do remember me
Let the thought rest easy on the pillow of the past
Don´t recall the tears and heartaches
Let the years erase the mistakes
Grab a hold of something good and try to make it last
Hang my picture in your mind, dust it off from time to time
When the light is right and I won´t fade away
I´ll be smiling from the wall
When your feet step down the hall
Watching as you go about your day

Then speak my name occasionally to a stranger that you meet
Tell them about a man you knew who wasn´t all that bad
And do a little favor for me
Recollect a funny story
Something that will make you smile whenever you feel sad.
Hang my picture in your mind, dust it off from time to time
When the light is right and I won´t fade away
I´ll be smiling from the wall
When your feet step down the hall
Watching as you go about your day

Hold on to my ´´used to be´´

When a dream is all that´s left of me
Don´t leave me in the dark
Keep a candle burning
In the corner of your heart
Be kind to my memory when you do remember me
Let the thought rest easy on the pillow of the past
Don´t recall the tears and heartaches
Let the years erase the mistakes
Grab a hold of something good and try to make it last

Please say you will remember me

And, be kind to my memory. (M. Folson)

Santiago, 1 avril, 2013

This week was not much for serious exploration. It provided a three day weekend, but I delayed in travel plans and thus stranded myself. However, I did take time to further to further identify parts of Santiago. So now is a good time to document my impression of the city to date.

Santiago is perhaps the cleanest city I have yet seen in all of S.A. Litter cans are visible, kept empty, and are actually used by the citizens. That alone distinguishes it. But, like all others is too has the primary plaza, Plaza de Armas, with National Cathedra on one side, government buildings on other. There are the benches full of people, the fountain, the children and attentive parents and the heroic statues. Of course there are the dogs, reported by one source as one for every five Chilenos. They bother no one.

The city has a mix of both the colonial and modern. Chile has one of the world´s strongest economies, an unemployment rate below five percent. The tallest building in S.A. is Consteneda Central, under construction, but partially occupied during construction. Of interest is the preservation of one of the cracks from the strongest earthquake ever recorded. A drill has penetrated deep into the earth´s crust, and with a special scope, allows the viewer to actually view the glowing molten activity lying miles beneath your feet.

Somewhere around six million live in the city itself. Departamentos are everywhere, several on each block, both owned and rented, most rising 15-25 stories tall. Most residential areas are tree lined with gardened entries. My street is quite pretty, as the sycamores are dropping their leaves as we go further into the fall.

On my more distant journeys from home, I take the metro. It is modern, clean, and rapid. The nearest stop is not too close, but the walk to and from is enjoyable. Today, as I write, is Easter Sunday, and I took the metro to the Cementario General. This had to be the largest cemetery I have ever seen, immense. Different parts are reserved for different faiths and different income layers. Today, whether due to Easter I can only assume, but almost all graves, tombs, have been decorated by fresh or false flowers, family photos, balloons, pinwheels, cartoon stickers, plastic toys, stuffed animals, Christmas decorations, even CDs. What thoughts and memories motivate the selection is speculative. Nonetheless the place was crowded as family members carefully pruned, cleaned and arranged the setting of their lost loves. There is nothing similar to my observation of the latin commitment to family.

Parks are everywhere and range in size and function. One of the largest, Cerro San Cristobal, overlooks the city, with large statue of Virgen de Guadalupe, her outstretched arms visible all over. It is a good climb to the top, unless you cheat and take the funicular (I did not cheat). There is also a good size zoo, a swimming pool and other vistas. Other parks are less endowed, but never too far away. I have yet to find my sanctuary. The central plaza is too busy and too distant. It may be that my house, an apartment with a tiny garden, will be the place.

I am beginning to miss my exercise regime, my paints, my guitar, but I am a long time away from reunion. Every week is a new one. No real complaints to date. My family is again enjoyable, somewhat different in their history than others. As I understand it, they left Venezuela as Chavez grew in strength and stupidity. It appears they left behind a sufficient lifestyle, and now are working hard at recovering some of that slip. I wish and hope for that to happen. They treat me well.