To Chile Tomorrow..I think...

[STMFlyGuide]

I had to put off my yearly Chile trip one month until now because of employee issuses... Now I am supposed to leave TOMORROW but there is rioting right where I am going... Google "southern Chile riots" and tell me what you think... My Dad is down there in Futaleufu where we live and the trouble seems to be moving closer.. The president of Chile is supposed to make and announcement today which could turn the situation in either direction...

[fly addict]

3rd world countries are not the place to be as an American during civil unrest. I remember surfing in El Salvador during the contra uprising. It wasn’t too bad where we were, but getting there and back through the capital of San Salvador was something I would not won’t to do again. Going through road blocks manned by kids with sub-machine guns was not my idea of having fun! You might not have any problems once you get to where you what to be, but the journey there might get interesting.

Mark

[Eric1]

David checkout this link.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8794735 ... _fly_home/
Wait a week or so to see what happens. Now wouldn't be a good time to go
Eric

[anacrime]

Oof! Be safe, watch your back-cast

[NorcalBob]

CRIKEY!!! I don't know what I'd do. All I can say, I was on the Futaleufu River about 20 miles from there last month (15 JAN) (on the ARG side) and there were no signs of unrest, problems, etc. Since you're very close to the Argentine border, if you have a vehicle, you have an easy way out if violence gets that far. One thing for sure, I'd travel through Argentina instead of Chile to get there, if I did choose to still go. No way in heck I'd go through Chile with all that garbage happening.

PS: My buddies were in the Aysen region of Chile, routed through Santiago, the first week of FEB and had no problems what so ever and saw no signs of unrest, revolt, etc. FWIW

[WanderingBlues]

I dunno know, David. Don't be like the blonde chick in the movies where every hint in the world is shown, every clue is dropped, every opportunity to leave is given, but still finds herself at the hands of a serial killer.

That's just to real.

[Papasequoia]

It's quite strange how almost all of the news stories about this violence are from Europe - especially the UK. Even the online LA Times which has a section for Latin America doesn't have a single news article about it. Not sure why this is, but it's quite interesting. I'd check the state department for travel advisories. Buena suerte.

[meb]

It's hard sometimes to know what's really going on.

In the late 80s I had a trip planned to an island off of Fiji, Tavarua, for a surfing adventure when the native Fijians decided to riot against the Indian majority that controlled the island's business. The bloodless coup stopped all commercial air travel. We cancelled our trip. There was very little coverage about it in the states.

[Bakoguy]

You're good
First, unrest seems to be Aysen. If I remember you are quite North of Aysen.
Second, are you just going to leave dad by himself.
Third, fish are generally apolitical.
Fourth, I am guessing you have tied way to many mouse patterns to use here.

Chileans are good people they are not protesting against the US.
Your dad is not getting younger.
Have fun. Send pictures.

[csimcox]

Just think of it this way, you won't just be going on a trip, you'll be going on an adventure!

[duckdog]

I'd check with the state dept. on travel there. I'd think twice about it except for the fact that your dad is down there, that would push me in the going direction. Just don't tell anyone that you are from the U.S. Tell them that you are from Bishopastan. You know , just west of Nevadastan, south of Mammothastan and north of Big Pineomainia. Eastern Euro. accent, you can do itttt.

I worked for Gordon and Smith surfboards in the 1980's and one of our team riders went to El Salvador when there was a bit of trouble going on. In the town that he was staying in there were a few gun battles. He told me that during one of these little spat's while he was tucked under his bed he heard a very loud thump against his hotel wall. After things settled down he went outside to find an unexploded mortar round that had hit the wall of the room that he was in. He left !
BE VERY CAREFULL WHEN YOU GO-- and have fun.

Mike

[briansII]

It's quite strange how almost all of the news stories about this violence are from Europe - especially the UK. Even the online LA Times which has a section for Latin America doesn't have a single news article about it. Not sure why this is, but it's quite interesting. I'd check the state department for travel advisories. Buena suerte.

I followed a youtube link on a search I did. There are lots of videos of rioting from late last year, and one(I only looked at a few)from Jan 16th. of this year. Not too much written news on the current situation.

Personally, I'd makes some contacts before I made a final decision. Leaving a family to be down there with my dad would be a tough decision.

Years ago we had a flight delay and had to stay over in Honduras while some civil unrest was happening. There were uniformed, and plain clothes young men(looked like teenagers)with automatic rifles. Same for in town. Lots of armed, military types. The hotel we stayed at said we should not go out at night. Had a very nice steak dinner INSIDE the hotel that night. Also had a very nice beer, that I've forgotten the name of. That was just the beginning of this "adventure", and we had lots more stories to tell from this vacation. Fun when I was single, in my 20s, but probably wouldn't have been so fun now.

briansII

[beachbum]

Take good care if you go, David! That's a tough call.

[STMFlyGuide]

Yeah, I can not stay back! I have the Chilean connection picking me up from the dirt runway of the Chaiten airport to help me get through anything is necessary.. Tried to leave this morning but my flight was cancelled out of Mammoth due to terrible winds. Leaving tomorrow!! Check out my updated fishing reports http://www.sierratroutmagnet.com/reports and watch for some large Chilean specimens to be put up very soon...If I had not been there before and was not able to almost fluently speak the language I would be thinking twice about going, the allure of the area and huge trout is just too much.. Thanks for all your advice. See you all soon. David

[Rockstar Fisherman]

Hey I got on my plane to New Zealand with a 102° fever which sucked for a 13 hour flight but it was well worth it now. Civil unrest is a bit different than being sick but believe me I did not want to get on my plane. Good luck and stay safe. New Zealand has been tough but we have caught some big browns and bows!!!!