On the way up to a Pinochet concentration camp.
Taking a look at the Rio Yeso from up above on the way into the Andes to a Pinochet Concentration Camp.
¡Hola a todos! As soon as I stepped off the plane in Santiago I knew Chile was going to be a place that I would instantly fall in love with. The past two weeks, with the Patagonia Gap Year have been spectacular. Travelling and home-staying with the amazing & welcoming Astorga family at the Cascada de las Animas in San José de Maipo, surfing the powerful ocean waves in Pichilemu and now lodging at the Pucón kayak hostel, this trip has already been absolutely incredible. Learning about Pinochet’s politics and having orientation our third day in the Andes mountains, were just two our many out of this world experiences.
Pinochet Concentration Camp near the Atacama Desert, & the boarder of Chile and Argentina in the Andes Mountains.
Driving through the Atacama Desert, up into the divine Andes mountain range bordering Argentina, was in itself a breathtaking scenic escapade. First on our agenda was to travel to a Pinochet Concentration Camp, near the beginning of the Rio Yeso. Even though it was beautiful, having knowledge of Pinochet’s politics and what he did to the people that disagreed with them was quite unsettling. Many families suffered through the time that Pinochet was in power. They had to experience things that no one should ever have to go through such as torture, exile, family members being taken away to camps, and people they know and love being murdered. Some people argue that what Pinochet did was great and good for the economy. They seem to forget all of the struggle and pain civilians had to endure during the period of time that Pinochet was in power. His savage punishments and actions surely outweigh the improvement of the economy. The family that we home-stayed with had to flee to Ecuador during the Pinochet dictatorship. Having the chance to meet people that went through and had family members that went through these experiences, made being at the concentration camps even more personal and very eerie.
Video of —> Pinochet Concentration Camp near the Rio Yeso, Chile.
Squatters living in what used to be a Pinochet Concentration Camp.
Pinochet Concentration Camp near the Atacama Desert, & the boarder of Chile and Argentina in the Andes Mountains.
After being up at the concentration camp, we made our way back down the mountains, around them, back up the Andes to a stunning camp site with natural hot springs. After setting up camp , this is where we would have our first orientation as a group. Three students and two teachers, up in the Andes, sitting out of the back of a truck, enjoying the magnificent mountain range, view of glaciers, roaming horses, and rivers. Conversing about past adventures, and learning lessons through story telling. It was in fact the best way to have a successful orientation. Completing our discussion of the gap year program and sharing our ideas and intentions, we headed up to the hot springs, bonded and enjoyed the rest of our evening as a group in the natural waters of the mountains. Looking up into the exquisite night sky and the multitude of bright stars and constellations.
Camping up in the Andes near natural hot springs.
Camping out in the Andes.
Photo’s, Video and Blog By : Tamara Semehen
