This update is fueled by a Parrilla and a liter of Hieneken in western Argentina. A Parilla is a mix of different beef parts like intestines, blood, kidney, and stomach. I think I'd have to say at this point that I'd rather they ground it all up and served me a hamburger with lots of ketsup. Maybe in Buenos Aires things will get better. I just finished a month on a farm within Pumalin Park, Chile and two days rafting on the Futeleufu River, one of the best in the world for rafting. Both deserve some more description. But, my travels start with three months on Robinson Crusoe Island, about which I should at least mention.
I spent October, November and December on my knees identifying plants which were giving me alergies on a crazy island 400 miles off the coast of Chile, and part of that country. The island was discovered (for real, not just in eurocentric terms) in 1574 by Juan Fernandez. At that time, 70% of the plants of the island were evolutionarily unique, aka endemic--the highest rate in the world. Some of these species have since been pushed into extinction, but the percentage has changed mostly due to species introductions--the subject of the study that brought me to the island.
While we quietly did our work in the next valley over a treasure hunt went on, directed by Bernard Kaiser. to be continued. . .