The Freegan dog...

So here is the thing: dogs and humans are ommivores. Dogs' roots are predominantly carnivore and humans' are predominantly vegetarian. There is not really much debate on any of this, you can look at our pathetic canines, muscles, speed etc when compared to real carnivores or even omnivores like bears, wild boars etc. You can also look at the length of our intestines, the fact that our mandibles are able to move from side to side like most rumiants, sweat glands instead of panting and lots of other minor little details (like for example, have you cut your claws recently?! do you think  you could kill a rabbit with those?!). Longer video cartoon on this point in this funny vegan video.

The road to Bolivia

Patricia had to come back to Arica for some field work so we took the opportunity to get out of Santiago to spend a few days up North. After walking around town on Saturday (and going back on site to check up on a contractor in the afternoon) we had a free day yesterday and decided last minute to hire a car and drive up into the mountains. Cycling would have been nice but wouldn't have got us very far in only one day, unfortunately.

Arica - The city of the eternal spring

Arica is a place of extremes:   it happens to be very close to the subduction zone known where the Nazca techtonic plate dives beneath the South American plate, threatening the city with huge earthquakes. In fact, in my past visit, someone told me that a big earthquake has been predicted for the area in the next few years.  Average rainfall per year is 0, one of the driest inhabited places on earth... and yet, near the city, there is an oasis where vegetables and olives are grown.

A wintery walk in the mountains

Santiago's location between the Coastal Range to the west and the Andes to the east is both source of frustration and joy to us. Frustration, because all the air pollution emitted by us 8 or so million inhabitants has nowhere to go and frequently billows as grey layer of smog amongst us. Joy, because of the impressive views and the opportunity to go exploring.