Coyhaique

Now I´m in Coyhaique, the center of the defense of the land in Patagonia. I´ll be spending the next week or two seeing what I can of the land and the people here (it is Winter, so not the height of outdoor season to say the least, but a good chance to get to know the people). Hopefully I´ll be able to get what I can of the outdoors.
Most people use the wood stove for heat, cooking, etc. since gas and electricity are increasing in price.

A teen juggles in the street to earn some extra money.

Signs and graffiti opposing the construction of the dams and power lines can be seen throughout the city.

Puerto Montt to Coyhaique

First I traveled to Puerto Montt before making it to Coyhaique, the center of the defense of Patagonia.
Puerto Montt bus terminal.

My current bed in Coyhaique... right next to the wood stove... yes!

A day with scientists

I took a day to spend some time with scientists from New Mexico Tech studying the volcano in Chaiten, a huge volcano that erupted in early May. No one is allowed within 50 km close, but the group was using instruments set up on farms to gather information.
Based in the town of Castro.

Farmland where the instruments were set up.



Collecting pumice on the shoreline.

Checking the gear at another site.

Landowners are reimbursed for their time and power.

Rosa, one of the owners.

The volcano plume.

Another landowner.


Heading home.

So the project that I am starting on is regarding the energy crisis in Chile and the proposed building of 5 dams in Patagonia, which would change the ecological landscape as well as the lifestyle, creating a "highway" of wires.
I´m currently in Patagonia, meeting people and seeing the region. It is a project that I hope to get what I can now, as the region is in winter and is much more active some the spring months. Maybe I´ll have the chance to return. But it is a good time to work on it at the same time because it is a current and forefront issue at the moment.
I started off in Santiago, which was just a chance to get my feet underneath me as well as think about the use of energy. The energy supply the dams would produce would be shipped North to the Central region, including Santiago. I´ll be returning there to really focus on this portion.

Chile Travel

So I'm currently sitting in the airport at Puerto Montt, Chile. My flight to Coyhaique was canceled due to the Chaiten volcano. Hopefully it will go tomorrow, but maybe not even then. But it's given me the chance to catch up on some things.
Yesterday with the scientists studying the volcano was fun. Got to see the countryside that I normally wouldn't see. People are only allowed 50km close to the volcano, so there is not much to view there, but it was still interesting nonetheless.
Here is a photo from flying over the mountains and into Chile. For now I'm back to the hostel I stayed in, Case Perla, which is more of a home-stay than a hostel. Down the hall is the parent's and daughter's bedroom, and the bathroom is shared with the family. But it is cozy and warm with a good breakfast, so it's all good with me.
My plans coming up are to make it to Coyhaique and settle in there, then try to meet with different people fro NGOs that are involved with the proposed dam building projects. From there I head even more South to get a good look at the Baker River, one of the two potential homes to the dams, and possibly the Pascua, as well as the towns that will be affected by the project.

Chilean Whirlwind

As of right now I'm currently sitting in the airport in Santiago, Chile. I arrived Sunday afternoon (today is Tuesday), and it has been quite a whirlwind. Mostly because I keep losing things. Don't know why, it's out of my character, and I think it's my subconscious way to keep me on my toes and teach myself a lesson. I have not done a lot of photography just yet, but I have done a lot of research and travel plans. Made it to the hostel Sunday afternoon and walked around for awhile getting adjusted, found a little restaurant with soup and a beer, and crashed for the night early. Monday was spent mostly making contacts and travel plans, which have since changed as of today. And today has been a trip of a meeting with the publisher and reporter at the Santiago Times to have the chance to talk with them about the work they've done on the energy crisis in Chile and the proposed dams in Patagonia (the project I'm pursuing while I'm here). It's a step-by-step process, and in a way I'm glad I'm making contacts as I go though making the travel arrangements is stressful. My plans of taking the bus South to Coyhaique have now changed to flying to Puerto Montt and taking the bus to Castro tonight so I can spend the day with some scientists from New Mexico who are studying the volcano in Chaitel, which has evacuated many towns. Then Thursday I'm flying to Coyhaique. That's all the plans for now, and photos are coming soon!

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