Browsed by
Month: June 2011

How do you clean up after a messy volcano?

How do you clean up after a messy volcano?

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Slowly, patiently and by putting a lot of people together. This is what people of Bariloche are doing today for the second time since the eruption of the volcano Puyehue. On June 20th over 2000 people, mainly volunteers gathered in the center of the city to begin a massive clean up of the downtown. In their first effort the people of Bariloche removed nearly 20 tons of ash! This second organized event brings together neighbors again with shovels to continue…

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A luxury train journey in Peru.

A luxury train journey in Peru.

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Recently hailed by the CNN Travel as the #2 epic train journey in the world, albeit the shortest, the Hiram Bingham train from Cuzco to Machu Picchu (actually Aguas Calientes) is a truly luxurious experience in Andean travel.  Following the winding valley of Urubamba River the journey offers spectacular views of the mountains, glimpses of the Inca Trail and gourmet cuisine. According to what the official website says: “You will be treated to pisco sours in the bar carriage before…

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Flags of South American countries, part 1 – Argentina

Flags of South American countries, part 1 – Argentina

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This is the first entry in a series of blog posts about the flags of South American countries. The flags of foreign countries have always interested me. They are often colorful and carry an interesting story behind their creation. So I thought it would be cool to learn about the flags of the South American continent, their meaning and symbolism. Those countries have a lot of history in common. Some of the same revolutionary heroes and enemies. The first one…

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Chileans protest hydroelectric dam development in Patagonia.

Chileans protest hydroelectric dam development in Patagonia.

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A massive project of several dams on two rivers and costing $3.2 billion has been approved by Chilean government in May this year. The future site of this project is no other than pristine southern Patagonia, a region of South America known for its rugged beauty and vast wilderness. It is also dear to Chileans and Argentines alike and a source of national pride. The land of lakes, glaciers, fjords and high mountains is now in danger of being developed…

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Naked bike ride in Santiago

Naked bike ride in Santiago

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This past Saturday, 250 bicyclists rode naked or nearly naked through the streets of Santiago, Chile to raise awareness of the cyclists on the road. This was Chile’s first World Naked Bicycle Ride, a movement started in 2004 by Conrad Schmidt and brought together a coordinated effort of existing groups such as Manifestacion Ciclonudista from Spain. The movement, green in nature, is an effort to raise the awareness of alternatives to car driving, promoting self-sufficiency, and health through exercise among others….

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Volcano eruption in Chile; Bariloche covered in ashes

Volcano eruption in Chile; Bariloche covered in ashes

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Bariloche has been covered in ashes as the Chilean volcano Puyehue erupted yesterday. The flights to Bariloche, Esquel, Chapelco and Trelew have been suspended. The state of emergency has been declared in Bariloche and schools and public buildings will stay closed. There have been reports of 30 centimeters of  ashes on the Route 40 near Bariloche and Neuquen. The ashes have moved as far as the Atlantic coast. For the full story and pictures check Argentine newspaper Clarin and Buenos Aires…

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