First and foremost, for the fans of Kapu's photography: on the last post about Valparaiso I have added two photos online that as a result of internet problems I could not earlier get online.
Departure from Santiago was still (at least at the time of departure) a big mess. The airport is still completely not usable after the earthquake, the building is brand new but looks like it was not designed to withstand earthquakes. Check-in for baggage was done in tents and the waiting room is an outside area that in its earlier life was a parking area.
Also our flight to Los Angles did not go totally without problems.
Just kidding, this is a photo of the War of the Worlds set, the well known disaster film starring Tom Cruise. The set is at Universal Studios, a film studio complex/adventure park that we visited. The attractions and shows varied from extremely dumb (House of Horros--a sort of spook house where actors with fake saw ran after visitors) to less dumb (Shred 4D---a 3D film where also the chairs moved and where water drops were sprayed when someone in the film sneezed) to hilariously cute (The Simpsons Ride).
The Simpsons Ride is the newest attraction and is totally spectacular. It is a sort virtual eight lane ride where it really seems and feels as if you go at high speed down; they use an enormous projection screen but 3D glasses are not necessary, moving cars, the release of aromas and so on. All of it is super nicely done and even waiting is nice and entertaining.
Also there is a studio tour where you ride in a sort bus over the terrain and ride along all the film sets.
For the fans: Wisteria Lane is unfortunately not available to see because they were busy filming.:/ We did have a glimpse of the house of Gabrielle (Gaby I think), in reality it is against a hill and there are a lot of trees in the area.
And we met still more famous persons:
In Los Angeles we stayed with Lauren (a friend of Geert), her boyfriend Steve, the dog "DOG" (say dee-o-gee") a friendly roommate, a made roommate and her dog Bailey that found it nice in the middle of the night to jump on our air mattress (the dog, not the roommate).
Lauren works as a lifegurad on the Venice Beach lifesaving boat (Where?). Everyone remembers the quality soap "Baywatch" with the round bosemed Pamela Anderson (There!!)
Lauren had just finished a 48 hour shift and had a few days free; no problem therefore to show us a bit of the city.
We went to the Star Observatory: with a view over the city, the Hollywood sign and we went inside a museum where we learned that Kapu and Giri together are 92.1 Fahrenheit:
We walekd along Venice Beach where there is a skateboard park and where you can, in a dubious manner, obtain medical marijuana.
An absolute highpoint is the Getty Museum; the building and the gardens are actually more impressive than the extensive art collection inside (VanGogh, Ensor, Monet, Manet and still more older art works).
Finally we had a drive over Mulholland Dr, Sunset Blvd and Hollywood Blvd.
Also Lauren took us with her to work, where we had a VIP ride on one of the life guard boats.
We had only been away from the pier about 2 minutes when the radio sounded out: "Jumper Santa Monica Pier". Someone thus jumped from the pier and our boat went immediately with a difficult ride in that direction. It was windy and therefore high waves on the sea and we seemed sometimes to, literally, fly through the air. We reached the pier and found that the jumper had already been fished out of the water by Pamela and we could in a calm way cruise back to the harbor.
And then Mr. Baywatch asked me if I was interested in steering the boat...................
And a bit later Geert was also allowed to do that.
So to this point, a shortened version of our adventures in Los Angeles; if the internet blesses us, then there follows many stories from New Zeeland.
Placed by Irma on 22 March 2010.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
26. Wednesday 17 March 2010
In the meantime we have already been 5 days in New Zealand.
It is awhile back since I have posted something on the blog and that has nothing to do with a lack of inspiration. The reason you could read in the post just before this one. In New Zealand Internet goes on copper wires, and after Chili with its super fast and overall free wi-fi is this an enormous difference. We shall try now and then to post something.
And then further with our story: VALPARAISO
After a day longer in Santiago----the bus was not going because of the earthquake----we left for Valparaiso where we had rented an apartment. Following is a photo of Giri by our front door: photo
Valparaiso is a port town built on 45 hills (keep that number in mind!!). We discovered that while we with our 20 kilo backpack and suitcase on wheels stumbled to our apartment. The hills are dotted with small colorful houses that look like block boxes stapled together. Also there are about 15 elevators in the city, cars that bring you to various hills.
View from one of the hills: photo
A square in the town: photo
Valparaiso i also in another manner special. I had my 29th birthday there.
That morning I woke up and thought: "it is my birthday". Also Geert, like a good "husband", did not forget. I was treated very special and received a breakfast that was like a feast including a cooked egg, grapes, breads, hagelslag (!) (Note from the translator: hagelslag is a chocolate type of topping for on bread and is a Dutch specialty. I can't really translate that to English except it's like tiny little pebbles of chocolate (milk or dark) and it goes on a slice of buttered, preferably white, bread and is DELICIOUS.) and cake. Also the crown was not forgotten. (Note from the translator: in Holland, the person having a birthday is often given a crown to wear and/or his or her chair is decorated with balloons or other crepe paper and such as that.)
Special for my birthday they opened up "La Sebastiana" again. This is the house from Pablo Neruda (him again) in Valparaiso. Until yesterday it was closed because of the earthquake. we went there and it is, just as "La Chascona" again very impressive. The man was a real collector and as soon as he saw something he liked, he had to have it. The whole house is filled to the brim with paintings, special furniture and all sorts of things like music boxes, a wooden merry go round with horses, and a figurehead from a ship. Also he had a different sort of feel for humor which also is very often noticeable in the house. An example hangs in the living room ---a painting of a woman from the "who knows which" century. On the wall across from that painting he has a similar painting from a man hanging in order to help the woman to not feel lonely......
We could not make photos, only from the view. Here you see his bedroom: photo
More photos from the house you can see here because we could not make them ourselves.....
In the evening of course there had to be a feast. We moved to the apartment above ours, that was much bigger. Bart--the owner--gave a BarBQ because of surviving the earthquake, the departure of a group of people that were living above us and naturally also for my birthday. Drink flowed plentifully, food was more than enough and it was a "leutig boel" (cannot determine a good translation of this word although I suppose they mean it was a really nice time). Also Haley (the Canadian that we met in Pucon and was living for a time in Valparaiso) came to the party. Finally, there was a birthday song sung and I had to blow out candles........
A few days later we flew to Los Angeles, where we stayed for 5 days because we could not get a direct flight to New Zealand. Over our stay there, later more information.
Placed by Irma on 17 March 2010
Labels: candles, copper wire and elevators
It is awhile back since I have posted something on the blog and that has nothing to do with a lack of inspiration. The reason you could read in the post just before this one. In New Zealand Internet goes on copper wires, and after Chili with its super fast and overall free wi-fi is this an enormous difference. We shall try now and then to post something.
And then further with our story: VALPARAISO
After a day longer in Santiago----the bus was not going because of the earthquake----we left for Valparaiso where we had rented an apartment. Following is a photo of Giri by our front door: photo
Valparaiso is a port town built on 45 hills (keep that number in mind!!). We discovered that while we with our 20 kilo backpack and suitcase on wheels stumbled to our apartment. The hills are dotted with small colorful houses that look like block boxes stapled together. Also there are about 15 elevators in the city, cars that bring you to various hills.
View from one of the hills: photo
A square in the town: photo
Valparaiso i also in another manner special. I had my 29th birthday there.
That morning I woke up and thought: "it is my birthday". Also Geert, like a good "husband", did not forget. I was treated very special and received a breakfast that was like a feast including a cooked egg, grapes, breads, hagelslag (!) (Note from the translator: hagelslag is a chocolate type of topping for on bread and is a Dutch specialty. I can't really translate that to English except it's like tiny little pebbles of chocolate (milk or dark) and it goes on a slice of buttered, preferably white, bread and is DELICIOUS.) and cake. Also the crown was not forgotten. (Note from the translator: in Holland, the person having a birthday is often given a crown to wear and/or his or her chair is decorated with balloons or other crepe paper and such as that.)
Special for my birthday they opened up "La Sebastiana" again. This is the house from Pablo Neruda (him again) in Valparaiso. Until yesterday it was closed because of the earthquake. we went there and it is, just as "La Chascona" again very impressive. The man was a real collector and as soon as he saw something he liked, he had to have it. The whole house is filled to the brim with paintings, special furniture and all sorts of things like music boxes, a wooden merry go round with horses, and a figurehead from a ship. Also he had a different sort of feel for humor which also is very often noticeable in the house. An example hangs in the living room ---a painting of a woman from the "who knows which" century. On the wall across from that painting he has a similar painting from a man hanging in order to help the woman to not feel lonely......
We could not make photos, only from the view. Here you see his bedroom: photo
More photos from the house you can see here because we could not make them ourselves.....
In the evening of course there had to be a feast. We moved to the apartment above ours, that was much bigger. Bart--the owner--gave a BarBQ because of surviving the earthquake, the departure of a group of people that were living above us and naturally also for my birthday. Drink flowed plentifully, food was more than enough and it was a "leutig boel" (cannot determine a good translation of this word although I suppose they mean it was a really nice time). Also Haley (the Canadian that we met in Pucon and was living for a time in Valparaiso) came to the party. Finally, there was a birthday song sung and I had to blow out candles........
A few days later we flew to Los Angeles, where we stayed for 5 days because we could not get a direct flight to New Zealand. Over our stay there, later more information.
Placed by Irma on 17 March 2010
Labels: candles, copper wire and elevators
25. Tuesday 16 March 2010 They Are Still Alive!!!!
Every day there is in the Benelux (and in the USA) disappointed faces..............
No more new blogs from Kapu en Girima............
However, notwithstanding that, photos from the most creative Kip Kapu's are being sent in the hope that they are added (to the blog of Irma and Geert).....
Well now, they are still living and are still deeply in love.
Los Angeles has been visited and they have sent historical photos from the movie studios: Girima together with Homer Simpson. or at least an actor in a Homer Simpson suit.
And now they are walking down under in New Zealand.
There are only two small problems. Their laptop is broken down and more than that internet all over New Zealand is verrrrrrrrry slow.
It shall therefore be a while (till in Australia?) before we get an avalanche of photos and stories.
Therefore, a little bit of patience. And continue to send Kip Kapu photos.
Your Editorial Assistant.
Placed by Dad/Martin 16 March 2010.
No more new blogs from Kapu en Girima............
However, notwithstanding that, photos from the most creative Kip Kapu's are being sent in the hope that they are added (to the blog of Irma and Geert).....
Well now, they are still living and are still deeply in love.
Los Angeles has been visited and they have sent historical photos from the movie studios: Girima together with Homer Simpson. or at least an actor in a Homer Simpson suit.
And now they are walking down under in New Zealand.
There are only two small problems. Their laptop is broken down and more than that internet all over New Zealand is verrrrrrrrry slow.
It shall therefore be a while (till in Australia?) before we get an avalanche of photos and stories.
Therefore, a little bit of patience. And continue to send Kip Kapu photos.
Your Editorial Assistant.
Placed by Dad/Martin 16 March 2010.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
24. Tuesday 2 March 2010 Liven Things Up
After the impressive story that causes one to think about the earthquake, it is necessary to liven up our world travelers with some lighthearted and good news from the home front. Otherwise they will become too depressed. Furthermore, Irma is tomorrow (3 March) having a birthday. (Tip: the text message service works again in Chili!!!).
And good news we have...............it is over!!! There is for a time no longer Mart Smeets. And also no longer in the mornings quickly looking at teletext (a television service not available in the USA but sort of like computer news on the t.v.) to see if something has been added.
WE are finished with 4-1-3. Just above Russia and France. Irma knows, as an ex Dutchman naturally directly what I am writing about and can explain that to Geert: that is the number of medals (for the Dutch) from the Winter Games. Four times GOLD and then still some silver and bronze.
Primarily from skating. Dutchmen are only good in sports on flat surfaces. As soon as they have to go high (such as Tia's springing jumps) or low on sleds or "latten" (no translation, sorry), then they don't do well.. Then we have to be modest. Overall for Dutchmen, an Olympic presentation is modest.
There shall now naturally be "wise ass" blog readers who say "Yes, but WE also had a Gold in Ladies Snowboarding". But the lady is named Sauerbrei. She must definitely have Austrian breath in her and so that doesn't count.
No, then our bobsledders. Four years hard training. Then one time to practice on the bobsled track in Vancouver and sledding down. ("Oops that was difficult") and following that, a day before the contest they withdrew ""we have the feeling that we can't control the track") The boys have it: Dutchmen can only do "prik sledding". (Sorry for the no translation on what type of sledding----we English readers have to miss getting the humor here.)
In the flat sports we have by the way still unknown possibilities. We just have to be a bit more creative. WE are for example very good in skating and we are great in hockey. Think about that..............ice hockey!!!!! Give Sven Kramer a hockey stick and tie some ....................... A medal is there for the taking. We just have to look for a good coach. Not a skating coach naturally, because they would let our players shoot at our own goal probably.
Further, Hanneke and I are going to be busy with curling. I discovered that such is also an Olympic sport. It looks a bit like "jeu-de-boules". (A European form of bowling). You must not throw with a ball, but with a sort of natural elegance slide throw with a stone over the ice. That is precisely something for me. "Let Martin slide" say my in-laws all the time. Thus, they also see me in that sport. And when in the spring you see Hanneke busy with her broom on our terrace, then you see her also doing good with that noble curling sport.
We shall be there in 2014!!!!!
But now a bit of rest, Irma: you can after three weeks take off your orange socks.
But don't throw them away. About the time you are in Mongolia OUR boys take the field in South Africa. Football is also a flat sport, therefore I can already see it. WE will be World Champion.
I'm going already to get a bottle of champagne.
Placed by Dad on 3 March 2010.
And good news we have...............it is over!!! There is for a time no longer Mart Smeets. And also no longer in the mornings quickly looking at teletext (a television service not available in the USA but sort of like computer news on the t.v.) to see if something has been added.
WE are finished with 4-1-3. Just above Russia and France. Irma knows, as an ex Dutchman naturally directly what I am writing about and can explain that to Geert: that is the number of medals (for the Dutch) from the Winter Games. Four times GOLD and then still some silver and bronze.
Primarily from skating. Dutchmen are only good in sports on flat surfaces. As soon as they have to go high (such as Tia's springing jumps) or low on sleds or "latten" (no translation, sorry), then they don't do well.. Then we have to be modest. Overall for Dutchmen, an Olympic presentation is modest.
There shall now naturally be "wise ass" blog readers who say "Yes, but WE also had a Gold in Ladies Snowboarding". But the lady is named Sauerbrei. She must definitely have Austrian breath in her and so that doesn't count.
No, then our bobsledders. Four years hard training. Then one time to practice on the bobsled track in Vancouver and sledding down. ("Oops that was difficult") and following that, a day before the contest they withdrew ""we have the feeling that we can't control the track") The boys have it: Dutchmen can only do "prik sledding". (Sorry for the no translation on what type of sledding----we English readers have to miss getting the humor here.)
In the flat sports we have by the way still unknown possibilities. We just have to be a bit more creative. WE are for example very good in skating and we are great in hockey. Think about that..............ice hockey!!!!! Give Sven Kramer a hockey stick and tie some ....................... A medal is there for the taking. We just have to look for a good coach. Not a skating coach naturally, because they would let our players shoot at our own goal probably.
Further, Hanneke and I are going to be busy with curling. I discovered that such is also an Olympic sport. It looks a bit like "jeu-de-boules". (A European form of bowling). You must not throw with a ball, but with a sort of natural elegance slide throw with a stone over the ice. That is precisely something for me. "Let Martin slide" say my in-laws all the time. Thus, they also see me in that sport. And when in the spring you see Hanneke busy with her broom on our terrace, then you see her also doing good with that noble curling sport.
We shall be there in 2014!!!!!
But now a bit of rest, Irma: you can after three weeks take off your orange socks.
But don't throw them away. About the time you are in Mongolia OUR boys take the field in South Africa. Football is also a flat sport, therefore I can already see it. WE will be World Champion.
I'm going already to get a bottle of champagne.
Placed by Dad on 3 March 2010.
23. Tuesday 2 March 2010 The Time Before the Earthquake
Of course now we are very influenced by the "terremoto" (Spanish for earthquake), but to make a historical correction and to safeguard the accuracy of our blog, you cannot forget that before the earthquake we had been going around Santiago touring for 5 days. And we saw and experienced a lot of nice and interesting things. These experiences of course are not part of what happened Friday/Saturday night, but okay, so as I said: to be fully complete in our story..............
we go back in time and write Sunday afternoon 21 February:
We too the night bus from Pucon to Santiago. After we almost missed the bus----we were still staying with Rob and Laura far from the center of Pucon and after unsuccessful efforts to call for a taxi (that were all busy...) Rob took us one at a time with his scooter to the village (including our gigantic baggage)----we were in the comfortable wide and soft seats of the bus. The night buses are luxurious!!!!!! The seats you can almost lay completely flat and there is a foot rest to put our legs on. "ok", I thought, " this will be nice". Unfortunately, I came to this conclusion without considering the snoring people who also were on our bus. Further, they have on all the buses in Chili at the front a screen hanging and on that the speed is shown. In order to provide that the driver doesn't drive faster than 100 km/hour (the maximum allowed speed), as soon as he does that, an alarm begins to signal out..... Well...........................
Dead tired we arrive in Santiago, but after a few hours of sleep, we could begin to enjoy this wonderful city:
Plaza De Armas: photo
Cerro Santa Lucia: photos
A park on a hill in the middle of the city
On the street
Graffiti
Everywhere there are booths with they sell the a lot of different things.
In a cafeteria: photo
Cerro San Cristobal: a giant hill; you can go up to the top with a funicular (we stood in the wagon where also the Pope stood a few years ago). At the top there is a gigantic statue of Mother Mary and an open air church. BUT even more interesting, there is a magnificent view of the city.
Museo de la Memoria: a museum that tells the story of the military dictator Pinochet, who was in charge from September 11, 1973 to 1990. This is very impressive, not only is the museum set up in a way that is beautiful to see, the building is an architectural marvel and the story of the dictator is very significant.
The building: photo
On one of the outside walls are written the Thirty Rights of Humanity.
International protest against the dictator
Folders from the court where Chileans try to determine what happened to family members who disappeared. The court continues to be negative: "the person you seek is not in our prisons:.....
A 3 story high wall hung with photos of victims of the regime.
N.B. A few days after the earthquake on the way to the bus terminal, we rode along this museum. We saw that it is a mess inside, ceilings have fallen down. The museum had only been open about 3 weeks.
La Chascona: one of the houses of Pablo Neruda. For those who for the last 100 years have lived on another planet, Pablo Neruda was a writer and poet and won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. Unfortunately we could not take photos inside. It is a beautiful house, that is composed of three sections and part is built against a hill. The form makes one think of a ship and also inside it looks like a ship( creaky wood floors, round windows, many pieces of furniture with wavy edges....) The whole house is full of antiques, collections, the walls hang full with paintings from well known artists, very inspiring.
And further
The house of Nerua we visited on Friday and what happened that night you have already read.
In between we were in Valparaiso. On many websites we read that there was a meter high tsunami there, but not one resident of this city saw the tsunami waves. From our apartment high in the hills we could keep an eye on the ocean and should a tsunami show itself on the horizon, we won't delay sharing with you in words and photo this natural phenomenon.
Placed by Irma 3 March 2010.
we go back in time and write Sunday afternoon 21 February:
We too the night bus from Pucon to Santiago. After we almost missed the bus----we were still staying with Rob and Laura far from the center of Pucon and after unsuccessful efforts to call for a taxi (that were all busy...) Rob took us one at a time with his scooter to the village (including our gigantic baggage)----we were in the comfortable wide and soft seats of the bus. The night buses are luxurious!!!!!! The seats you can almost lay completely flat and there is a foot rest to put our legs on. "ok", I thought, " this will be nice". Unfortunately, I came to this conclusion without considering the snoring people who also were on our bus. Further, they have on all the buses in Chili at the front a screen hanging and on that the speed is shown. In order to provide that the driver doesn't drive faster than 100 km/hour (the maximum allowed speed), as soon as he does that, an alarm begins to signal out..... Well...........................
Dead tired we arrive in Santiago, but after a few hours of sleep, we could begin to enjoy this wonderful city:
Plaza De Armas: photo
Cerro Santa Lucia: photos
A park on a hill in the middle of the city
On the street
Graffiti
Everywhere there are booths with they sell the a lot of different things.
In a cafeteria: photo
Cerro San Cristobal: a giant hill; you can go up to the top with a funicular (we stood in the wagon where also the Pope stood a few years ago). At the top there is a gigantic statue of Mother Mary and an open air church. BUT even more interesting, there is a magnificent view of the city.
Museo de la Memoria: a museum that tells the story of the military dictator Pinochet, who was in charge from September 11, 1973 to 1990. This is very impressive, not only is the museum set up in a way that is beautiful to see, the building is an architectural marvel and the story of the dictator is very significant.
The building: photo
On one of the outside walls are written the Thirty Rights of Humanity.
International protest against the dictator
Folders from the court where Chileans try to determine what happened to family members who disappeared. The court continues to be negative: "the person you seek is not in our prisons:.....
A 3 story high wall hung with photos of victims of the regime.
N.B. A few days after the earthquake on the way to the bus terminal, we rode along this museum. We saw that it is a mess inside, ceilings have fallen down. The museum had only been open about 3 weeks.
La Chascona: one of the houses of Pablo Neruda. For those who for the last 100 years have lived on another planet, Pablo Neruda was a writer and poet and won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1971. Unfortunately we could not take photos inside. It is a beautiful house, that is composed of three sections and part is built against a hill. The form makes one think of a ship and also inside it looks like a ship( creaky wood floors, round windows, many pieces of furniture with wavy edges....) The whole house is full of antiques, collections, the walls hang full with paintings from well known artists, very inspiring.
And further
The house of Nerua we visited on Friday and what happened that night you have already read.
In between we were in Valparaiso. On many websites we read that there was a meter high tsunami there, but not one resident of this city saw the tsunami waves. From our apartment high in the hills we could keep an eye on the ocean and should a tsunami show itself on the horizon, we won't delay sharing with you in words and photo this natural phenomenon.
Placed by Irma 3 March 2010.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
22. Sunday 28 February 2010 Shaking Chili: Story of the Earthquake
Early to bed
The plan was actually to take the bus early Saturday morning to a national park near Santiago (Cajon del Maipo) in order to sort of take a break from the whole week of sightseeing in the city before leaving Sunday for Valparaiso, one of the most beautiful cities of Chili, which is situated on a hill. Thus, on time to bed because at 6:00 we had to get up. Our bus to the park leaves always at 7:30.
Awakened out of bed
Until about 3:30 we both were shaken awake: the whole house shook heavily, there was some noise from the clapping window and sliding furniture, but further the first thing that comes to mind in such a situation: what now....? Until a moment later you realize: earthquake.... "oh well, that happens here a lot, therefore no panic, I don't get out of bed for that" feeling.
But the shaking became heavier and changed into violent shocks. The first glass breaks, you hear everywhere things falling and breaking and Irma began then a bit to worry over it. Then you decide that it is best for both of you to go down the swinging stairs barefoot and (luckily) in your pajama bottoms and on the way you notice another falling vase and pieces of glass on the floor; you push a crying and half naked very pregnant lady who is in panic to help her out of the student house, where she is also staying, to go to the terrace and then the electricity goes out. So apocalyptic conditions.
A minute later the shaking stops and you hear everywhere car alarms, sirens, screeching and when the first flashlights and candles are retrieved from upstairs, you see nothing in front of you because the whole yard is bathed in dust. There you stand, drowsy but very alert, barefoot in a dust cloud in a yard in Santiago, Chili. Almost everyone around you is drunk because it is Friday night, summer vacation, warm, the weekend and you are staying in a student house. Some of them had not yet gone to sleep and came running up shaky, sweating, smelling like a mix of rum and cigarettes in total panic, with the words "no panic", "no pasa nada, tranquilo" (Spanish for "nothing happens", "quiet". I could manage a bit of saliva but still I was a little nervous, but we were totally not in panic....we just stood there like normal but feeling sleepy and waiting till we again .......(sorry a translation difficulty for a phrase) and realized that if the house could withstand a three minute earthquake of 8.8, we probably would do that also.
Replica
But then came the "replicas" as the people hear call the aftershocks. Not 5 minutes later the earth trembled again, although this time it is not comparable to the shaking of 3:30 a.m.
Because we were standing in the yard barefoot and with not many clothes on, we decided to go back to our room on the third floor of the building to get a t-shit and shoes on and to get our flashlights.. It is quite clear that no one is going to go back to sleep. Maria, the housekeeper (a German and one of the few sober residents) wanted to first thoroughly inspect the house for damage and then after that let everyone back to their rooms.
We walked carefully up the stairs, brushing away dust and pieces of chalk that came down from the walls and on first floor up we came across real damage in the kitchen. The stove is moved a meter and the cabinet with plates was open, with half of the contents broken on the ground.
Normally our visit of a few days prior to the winery of Concha y Toro would not have made this blog. It was actually much too expensive relative to the value of the tour. The two gifts (glasses with the name of the business) we, however, liked and set them in full view on the cabinet in our room, on the highest shelf, so they were in good view. That was clearly done without counting on an earthquake.
The glasses will in more ways than one be a nice memory of Chili and Irma has called me crazy because I will absolutely take the second glass home.
Okay, the aftershocks. After we had put on a few more clothes and after about three hours or so outside putting up with overly tired, overly worried drunk Spaniards and Chileans, we went back inside. We drug a mattress a level lower so that the way to get out was shorter in the event of aftershocks. Not a half hour later that happened again. A heavy aftershock and again storming outside. And again standing among those in panic.
The aftershocks continued the entire night and days after. Until now there have been more than 70 aftershocks registered but they are mostly short,light shocks, some so light that you feel them if you are sitting or laying or because you see circles appearing in your glass of water.
The Following Day
The night was further quiet and about 7:00 we decided to go back to bed. In the meantime, the electricity came on again and we were successful letting our family know that we were okay.
A few hours later, around midday, we got up and began with cleaning up the trash and damage in the house. Luckily it seemed not so bad because in an hour the two of us had straightened up book shelves and we got the kitchen in order and had vacuumed the whole house.
After that we walked in the yard of our house and through the city to see what the damage was.
Like a miracle, the Virgin Mary (or better said, the statue in the yard that is of her) was not damaged by the earthquake, even though a meter high wall had fallen over.
Also the family pets were okay.
In the streets of Santiago, we encountered another situation. Even though a large part of the city was not damaged by this very heavy earthquake, some old houses were heavily damaged, some totally damaged. We met people who with everything they had were loading up and fleeing.
Happy Hostel: a total wall was gone: photo
In Santo Domingo, the same street as ours: photo:
The window of a liquor store: photo
A television crew getting the opinions of the Santiago people: photo
Modern buildings were not damaged greatly: photo
Many clocks were still at 3:30, the time of the earthquake: photo
Even though there are hundreds of deaths, the airport was closed for two days and there are no buses (important transportation source between the large cities)running, we have the impression that this country in a very flexible and smart way will come through this disaster. In the capital, there are supermarkets closed, but the metro is going after only 1 day with a capacity of 80%; there is nowhere insofar as we have seen panic breaking out, no one is beginning to beg and the situation is very quiet. Sometimes we have the impression that the media overemphasize some of the facts about the disaster, although maybe that is also necessary to get the attention of those who are not in the immediate area.
What unfortunately cannot be said for towns like Concepcio, near the epicenter of the earthquake and Talcahunano, that was swept away by the tsunami, the number of victims and the damage here in Santiago is, we think, something that can be handled and certainly compared to what happened in Haiti.
I read this on allsantiago.com, a website with tourist information about the city: "Santiago cold well be a miraculous place. It's wondrous, in fact, that it exists at all. Hopelessly isolated for centuries, destroyed several times by earthquakes and repeatedly pounded by financial meltdowns and political crisis, this city is one tough cookie. It's no surprise the world is setting its eyes on the Chilean capital as it finally shakes off years of shortcomings and bounces fashionably into action. Down the ages, life in Santiago has been more defined by resourcefulness than excess, yet it cannot be denied that the city has continually exerted an alluring effect on the hundreds of thousands of soul-searchers who have made it their home. The spirit of its population is evidence of an unyielding belief in self-improvement, hard work, and of course miracles themselves."
Travel plans changed.
One of the hardest earthquakes in history and you sit in the middle of it----that doesn't happen on every normal world trip and we are and remain seriously impressed.
Our travel plans in Chili were naturally totally changed because we at this moment can get out of this city. Luckily we can stay a week longer in Santiago before our flight to Los Angeles (also an area notorious for earthquakes) leaves the following week on Saturday. Maybe we will still go in a few days to Valparaiso, the beautiful Chilean coastal city where we had rented an apartment and where we actually were supposed to be traveling to today.
Placed by Geert on 28 February 2010.
Labels: terremoto santiago
The plan was actually to take the bus early Saturday morning to a national park near Santiago (Cajon del Maipo) in order to sort of take a break from the whole week of sightseeing in the city before leaving Sunday for Valparaiso, one of the most beautiful cities of Chili, which is situated on a hill. Thus, on time to bed because at 6:00 we had to get up. Our bus to the park leaves always at 7:30.
Awakened out of bed
Until about 3:30 we both were shaken awake: the whole house shook heavily, there was some noise from the clapping window and sliding furniture, but further the first thing that comes to mind in such a situation: what now....? Until a moment later you realize: earthquake.... "oh well, that happens here a lot, therefore no panic, I don't get out of bed for that" feeling.
But the shaking became heavier and changed into violent shocks. The first glass breaks, you hear everywhere things falling and breaking and Irma began then a bit to worry over it. Then you decide that it is best for both of you to go down the swinging stairs barefoot and (luckily) in your pajama bottoms and on the way you notice another falling vase and pieces of glass on the floor; you push a crying and half naked very pregnant lady who is in panic to help her out of the student house, where she is also staying, to go to the terrace and then the electricity goes out. So apocalyptic conditions.
A minute later the shaking stops and you hear everywhere car alarms, sirens, screeching and when the first flashlights and candles are retrieved from upstairs, you see nothing in front of you because the whole yard is bathed in dust. There you stand, drowsy but very alert, barefoot in a dust cloud in a yard in Santiago, Chili. Almost everyone around you is drunk because it is Friday night, summer vacation, warm, the weekend and you are staying in a student house. Some of them had not yet gone to sleep and came running up shaky, sweating, smelling like a mix of rum and cigarettes in total panic, with the words "no panic", "no pasa nada, tranquilo" (Spanish for "nothing happens", "quiet". I could manage a bit of saliva but still I was a little nervous, but we were totally not in panic....we just stood there like normal but feeling sleepy and waiting till we again .......(sorry a translation difficulty for a phrase) and realized that if the house could withstand a three minute earthquake of 8.8, we probably would do that also.
Replica
But then came the "replicas" as the people hear call the aftershocks. Not 5 minutes later the earth trembled again, although this time it is not comparable to the shaking of 3:30 a.m.
Because we were standing in the yard barefoot and with not many clothes on, we decided to go back to our room on the third floor of the building to get a t-shit and shoes on and to get our flashlights.. It is quite clear that no one is going to go back to sleep. Maria, the housekeeper (a German and one of the few sober residents) wanted to first thoroughly inspect the house for damage and then after that let everyone back to their rooms.
We walked carefully up the stairs, brushing away dust and pieces of chalk that came down from the walls and on first floor up we came across real damage in the kitchen. The stove is moved a meter and the cabinet with plates was open, with half of the contents broken on the ground.
Normally our visit of a few days prior to the winery of Concha y Toro would not have made this blog. It was actually much too expensive relative to the value of the tour. The two gifts (glasses with the name of the business) we, however, liked and set them in full view on the cabinet in our room, on the highest shelf, so they were in good view. That was clearly done without counting on an earthquake.
The glasses will in more ways than one be a nice memory of Chili and Irma has called me crazy because I will absolutely take the second glass home.
Okay, the aftershocks. After we had put on a few more clothes and after about three hours or so outside putting up with overly tired, overly worried drunk Spaniards and Chileans, we went back inside. We drug a mattress a level lower so that the way to get out was shorter in the event of aftershocks. Not a half hour later that happened again. A heavy aftershock and again storming outside. And again standing among those in panic.
The aftershocks continued the entire night and days after. Until now there have been more than 70 aftershocks registered but they are mostly short,light shocks, some so light that you feel them if you are sitting or laying or because you see circles appearing in your glass of water.
The Following Day
The night was further quiet and about 7:00 we decided to go back to bed. In the meantime, the electricity came on again and we were successful letting our family know that we were okay.
A few hours later, around midday, we got up and began with cleaning up the trash and damage in the house. Luckily it seemed not so bad because in an hour the two of us had straightened up book shelves and we got the kitchen in order and had vacuumed the whole house.
After that we walked in the yard of our house and through the city to see what the damage was.
Like a miracle, the Virgin Mary (or better said, the statue in the yard that is of her) was not damaged by the earthquake, even though a meter high wall had fallen over.
Also the family pets were okay.
In the streets of Santiago, we encountered another situation. Even though a large part of the city was not damaged by this very heavy earthquake, some old houses were heavily damaged, some totally damaged. We met people who with everything they had were loading up and fleeing.
Happy Hostel: a total wall was gone: photo
In Santo Domingo, the same street as ours: photo:
The window of a liquor store: photo
A television crew getting the opinions of the Santiago people: photo
Modern buildings were not damaged greatly: photo
Many clocks were still at 3:30, the time of the earthquake: photo
Even though there are hundreds of deaths, the airport was closed for two days and there are no buses (important transportation source between the large cities)running, we have the impression that this country in a very flexible and smart way will come through this disaster. In the capital, there are supermarkets closed, but the metro is going after only 1 day with a capacity of 80%; there is nowhere insofar as we have seen panic breaking out, no one is beginning to beg and the situation is very quiet. Sometimes we have the impression that the media overemphasize some of the facts about the disaster, although maybe that is also necessary to get the attention of those who are not in the immediate area.
What unfortunately cannot be said for towns like Concepcio, near the epicenter of the earthquake and Talcahunano, that was swept away by the tsunami, the number of victims and the damage here in Santiago is, we think, something that can be handled and certainly compared to what happened in Haiti.
I read this on allsantiago.com, a website with tourist information about the city: "Santiago cold well be a miraculous place. It's wondrous, in fact, that it exists at all. Hopelessly isolated for centuries, destroyed several times by earthquakes and repeatedly pounded by financial meltdowns and political crisis, this city is one tough cookie. It's no surprise the world is setting its eyes on the Chilean capital as it finally shakes off years of shortcomings and bounces fashionably into action. Down the ages, life in Santiago has been more defined by resourcefulness than excess, yet it cannot be denied that the city has continually exerted an alluring effect on the hundreds of thousands of soul-searchers who have made it their home. The spirit of its population is evidence of an unyielding belief in self-improvement, hard work, and of course miracles themselves."
Travel plans changed.
One of the hardest earthquakes in history and you sit in the middle of it----that doesn't happen on every normal world trip and we are and remain seriously impressed.
Our travel plans in Chili were naturally totally changed because we at this moment can get out of this city. Luckily we can stay a week longer in Santiago before our flight to Los Angeles (also an area notorious for earthquakes) leaves the following week on Saturday. Maybe we will still go in a few days to Valparaiso, the beautiful Chilean coastal city where we had rented an apartment and where we actually were supposed to be traveling to today.
Placed by Geert on 28 February 2010.
Labels: terremoto santiago
Monday, March 15, 2010
21. Irma & Geert okay in Chili--2nd reference
The item numbered 21 and which would come at this point was placed earlier in this translation blog so that any readers in English would know that Geert and Irma were okay after the earthquake in Chili.
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