I have left the fifth region and found myself in the eighth (I think, or ninth..) in Concepción--which Chileans, in good Chilean style, have shortened to Conce in familiar speech.
It's funny that in these last few weeks before the election, Valpo, a city known for its left leaning and brilliant graffitti, has become cluttered with these neatly constructed campaign signs (most commonly a white plastic background to pictures of smiling, well-dressed candidates on a wooden frame), while Concepción, whose gigantic supermarkets have been the most striking feature so far (there's even one called "BIGGER", I kid you not), is full of bold, colorful graffitti featuring names of candidates.
I'll be in Chiloé (the largest island in Chile) for the election. Piñera, the neighborly conservative candidate, apparently owns half of the island. It will be interesting.
Today I went to a battleship! From 1879! Mira:
I think it would not have been as cool if it were not as old. The Monitor Huascar was in the last war with Peru, the War of the Pacific, and was actually a Peruvian ship, captured by the Chileans and now on display as a show of brotherhood (not sure where the logic is in that). I had a nice conversation with a naval person, who seemed confused why I would travel alone, and was called "tía" by a little girl who wanted me to show her around. I tried to imagine myself as captain of this ship, which held up to 180 people. I couldn't.
Anyways, tomorrow, I leave again, this time for Temuco, and maybe Pucon. Wooo..!
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