from Santiago

Big city time. Plus the official program is underway so the heavy lifting has begun.

First thing, I´m having to chase down internet kiosks and cafes in the Provencia (sic¿) neighborhood of Santiago. There are two free computers in the hotel, but they are very slow. You can get wireless, for $10-day, and I¨m too cheap to make a daily diet for that. So for now it´s strange little places that charge 50 cents for 15 minutes.

I´m looking forward to uploading some pics soon.

Right now I´ll briefly comment on the Allende- Pinochet episode. There´s been some attention given to that in our lectures, plus we visited the famous palace, La Moneda, where in 1973 the coup took place and Allende ¨committed suicide¨ (the official story, even now, though I sorta have my doubts).

I was a young man at the time and I should be able to say I remember all that. But like most young men, I wasn´t paying close attention to global affairs.

Anyway, I´ve found myself oddly (i think so) moved by this piece of history, how it happened and what followed. I¨m also interested in learning more how this nation ¨moves on¨. Later this week we will visit one of the sites where opponents of the military government were tortured.

It´s odd to say I¨m looking forward to that... maybe just very curious.

Last item of the dia, the Andes are absolutely spectacular!