Spank That Donkey

The USS George Washington put into the port of Valparaiso today, and conduct joint naval exercises with the Chilean Navy.  This is the third year in a row for joint exercises, think Chile and the US is telling Hugo something?

When I visited in September 07' I was amazed at the port, and no joke the Chilean navy was in and out of the harbor constantly.  They have a great naval tradition, and one of the largest navies in South America.  As part of their Constitution 10% of all of the profits from the Copper mining in Chile must go to purchase equipment annually in Chile.  Pretty interesting policy huh?

Undoubtedly we would conduct exercises meant to control access to the nearby Panama Canal clearing the area of submarines.

It seems that a volcano near Chaiten, Chile has erupted.  Chile is located along a subducting tectonic plate, where the pacific ocean floor is diving under South America, or specifically Chile and Argentina.

I have never been this far south in Chile, but it looks beautiful, as does most anywhere in that 3000 mile long nation.  Chile recorded the most powerful earthquake known to man in 1960.

I hope I can go back to Chile this year.... I'd like to spend a couple days in Valpo and then hit Farellones, for a few days of snowboarding, then onto Pucon for the thermal pools....then four or so days in Termas De Chillan snowboarding, and getting massages at the Grand Hotel.... and of course more thermal pools...

(Market in ValPo)

 It would seem quite a lot of research has gone into the subject of potatoes originating either along the high Andes chain of mountains or in Chile itself.  Heck I thought they came from Ireland.  Check it out:

“What’s important to understand as part of the story is that there are two major sources of cultivated potatoes. One is in the high Andes, throughout a broad region, from western Venezuela down to northern Argentina. And the other source of potato is in Chile, centered in Chiloé Island and in adjacent regions,” professor Spooner told the Patagonia Times.

From my four visits there my impression would be that beets & avocados were indigenous to Chile, as just about every salad or entree tends to include those delectable vegetables.  My only disappointment with Chilean food is how they marbleized their beef.  It tends to be way fattier than what we consume in the USA.

Regardless, should you face this trivia question of the origination of the potato; you'll have it covered.  Just as a note, if you doubt why produce like this would come from North or South America, just think corn, or maize.  Seafarers made land fall all over Chile returning from the far east returning to Europe via the southern tip of South America since the Panama Canal was not dug until the early 1900's.  It would only make sense they would pick up all the local produce available for the trip home, and kept cool potatoes can keep for quite a while.

Just like in Kilo's Tater Cellar.

 Can you rock with this?

This is the only monkey business I can deal with this election year.

(Worth the Click) Check out this beautful shot I found on Flickr of the near the top of the chair lift that is pictured buried in my previous post.  You can see the steam coming off the cone, and this gives you a good perspective on how close the resort is to the caldera.  This is what it what it looked like when I was there, except the chairs were in snow... exactly why I never thought to take pic...

(Click & See)  Here is another Llaima photo I found on Flickr of the crater itself, now compare that to the eruption shots, and see for yourself how much magma is being thrown up!

(That's a lot of molton rock!)  Go East, Go East!  Meanwhile, Al Gore is fretting over SUV's.... how much CO2 do you think is being expelled in this what is so far a tame eruption.

ooooo, oooo, video.