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Background: Prior to the coming of the Spanish in the 16th century, northern Chile was under Inca rule while Araucanian Indians inhabited central and southern Chile; the latter were not completely subjugated until the early 1880s. Although Chile declared its independence in 1810, decisive victory over the Spanish was not achieved until 1818. In the War of the Pacific (1879-84), Chile defeated Peru and Bolivia and won its present northern lands. A three-year-old Marxist government of Salvador ALLENDE was overthrown in 1973 by a dictatorial military regime led by Augusto PINOCHET, who ruled until a freely elected president was installed in 1990. Sound economic policies, maintained consistently since the 1980s, have contributed to steady growth and have helped secure the country's commitment to democratic and representative government. Chile has increasingly assumed regional and international leadership roles befitting its status as a stable, democratic nation.

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By smartslacks
November 25th 2007

The begining of Pantagonia

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Varas

Orsono Volcano
It was about 23 degrees this day

I DRAGGED myself away from the sunshine of Reñaca, to head south and begin the Pantagonian leg of my trip. I voted John Howard out (!) at the Australian Embassy in Santiago, then got on an extemely comfortable overnight bus to Puerto Varas. Complete with business class style seats, a dinner box and breakfast... cute! I awoke to lush green hills and shabby European style houses, with moss covered roofs. Puerto Varas completely blew me away, I walked the town in some delerium, as the photos will show, it is just gorgeous. I hired a bike and rode by the lake [View Full Entry]

By c dog
November 19th 2007

to the bottom of the world

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt

How sweetly memories comfort when we're far from home. We're getting ready to set sail tomorrow. I feel like, other than the language, there's not been a whole lot that has changed in my day to day life. I'm still fixing things and cooking and continually being amazed by the beauty of this place. I feel like i've been busy, but to no particular end. Even though i know logically we're going to sail around the southernmost piece of any of the six habitable continents, it's still an abstraction whose reality is masked most of the time by the routines of [View Full Entry]

By c dog
November 16th 2007

first impressions

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt

After several days of being lulled by beautiful spring weather, I woke up this morning to the slap-slappity sound of waves lapping against the hull of the Maggie B pushed by a strong northeastern wind screaming down off the Andes. I'm still struggling to get my bearings as far as directions go. At night Orion and his companion Canis major (which I thought I would not be able to see this far south) stand on their heads in the northern sky, and the city lights of Puerto Montt drown out most other stars that I'm excited to get to know in [View Full Entry]

By molnargerry
November 12th 2007

puert montt, agte to navimag

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt

hi just a short entry before i depart for p natales by the navimag ferry. i have arrived here in p montt at 3pm by bus from bariloche. the hostyel "roccoo" where i am staying is fine, has a nice staff. tomorrow at 9am i will check in at navimag office and we depart at 2pm. hope the weather will be nice cheers sziasztok egy gyors bejelentkezes meg a komput elott: minden ok, megerkeztem bariloche-bol p montt-ba, a hotel ahol vagyok nagyon klassz, kedvesek a tulajdonosok. szinte az osszes vendeg aki itt van, holnap kompra szall. most "toborzodik" a tarsasag, bar [View Full Entry]

By the3chicas
November 5th 2007

damsels very nearly in distress

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt

Hola amigos!!! After 45hrs on the go we finally made it out of an airport on to Sth American soil. Everyones been amazing, Kate has had 4 helping at money machine, nothing like 3 blonde haired, blued eyed chicas looking like they have no idea! Penny´s received 2 kisses, Kate one and Aroha catching all the whistles. The taxi man offered his hand as we alighted from the vehicle (I hope you kiwi boys are taking notes). Had a good nights sleep at Perla´s casa and about to board the boat for a 3 day trip through the fiords to Puerto [View Full Entry]

By Gunga
November 1st 2007

Rain, Rapids and Ghosts and Goblins

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt

Chile is a country that surprises me at every bend in the road. Yesterday we headed out from Punta Varas in the south of the country to try and get a glimpse of the volcano Oronco ( sp?). It usually is shrouded in clouds with rain threatening at all times. But luck was with us and we started to see the sun shining off the glacier which coats the top of this perfectly shaped volcanic cone like meringue swirled a mile high. It only got better and better as we rode up and up and up the gravel switch back road [View Full Entry]

By Jamie and Jenny
October 24th 2007

Cruising the Patagonian Fjords

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Montt

The Navimag Ferry
Home for three days

The Navimag ferry is a regular route between Puerto Natales and Puerto Montt. It takes three days to travel the 1500 km route through the channels of southern Chile taking passengers and cargo. The ferry left Puerto Natales at 6am on the first day. We had to board it the previous evening, when we were given an introductory talk, then they showed Motorcycle Diaries on the big screen. We were moving by the time we got up the following morning. The thing about journeys like this is that they can be fairly monotonous. There was something of a routine to the [View Full Entry]

By GV 2007
July 31st 2007

Team Chile - Post 8 (I think!)

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Chiloé Island

Buenos Dias! It is the last day of July and we are at approximately the half-way point of our trip. Somehow it feels like we have been here longer because we have already done so much. And yet, we still have so much of the country to visit! We have spent the last couple weeks travelling through The Lake District of Chile. When last we wrote, we were settled in the city of Valdivia, a "university town" on the coast, nestled between two rivers that lead to the Pacific Ocean. Valdivia is home to a large population of german immigrants, countless [View Full Entry]

By patrickscott
July 1st 2007

A week on the island of Chiloé

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Chiloé Island

Cathedral in Castro

Just wanted to say sorry that it has been such a long time since updating my blog, but due to some problems with the blog's website and just having too much fun in Argentina, I haven't got around to it lately :) So after a few days in Pucón, I broke off again from my Quebecois friends and headed to the city of Puerto Montt for the sole purpose of buying a passage on the Navimag from Puerto Montt to Puerto Natales, a three day journey to the south of Chile. At the Navimag office, I was notified that the boat [View Full Entry]

Yet another part of South America that wants Autonomy

By Al Po
June 2nd 2007

Awe inspiring views and houses on stilts

South America » Chile » Los Lagos » Puerto Varas

RECOVERED

Puerto Varas, touted as the next Pucon, and understandably so. Its another picturesque town, this time right on a lake - Lake Llanguihue - with plenty of activities to keep the adventure enthusiasts going. Another volcano to climb, skiing, horseback treks, mountain biking and many other activities are on offer. In high season that is. When we went we had the benefit of having the town to ourselves with not so many tourists about but many activities and accomodations were shut. In fact the first 2 'hospedajes' we tried were shut but we did find somewhere and were quite happy [View Full Entry]

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