


	03/21/2001

	Puerto Montt - CHILE

	S 41°28 W 72°56

	+ 100 !

Judging by Marco and Theo's yellowish faces and Ithaca's greyish face, our three patients still haven't recovered from the strange disease that they are stricken with. Only Vale, Nicole and Aleko are in great shape, but quite worried with the others 'health.

Yesterday night, we had (excepted Marco and Ithaca, unable to swallow anything) a dinner with an American couple and their daughter, who to anchor in the fjord with their sailing boat. They have been traveling for 10 months. From Boston, they sailed to La Rochelle, then crossed the Canal du Midi to visit some Mediterranean islands, before passing through the Gibraltar straits and go to Brazil. Sailing along the Argentinean coast, they arrived in Chile less than 3 weeks ago. The Team listens with pleasure to the adventures of these nomads of the sea, while eating a delicious smoked salmon cooked by Marcos for our last night on Chiloé.

Indeed, we have decided to leave the island to join the Continent, health abiding . This morning, Nicole and Vale go to meet an old woman - some say she has some powers - to hear about Chiloé's memory. She tells them about her life and give them a mysterious remedy to cure the illness. But watch the video...

It's time to leave the house. Ithaca staggers to Marco's 4x4, as Marco, who seems to hallucinate, groans before collapsing onto the back seat. Only Theo seems much better. We have decided to stop in Castro, in order to visit the beautiful little town and to buy some more medicine.

The road is long and difficult, and we have to stop several times: Ithaca vomits as Marco falls asleep and doesn't move anymore. In Castro, Aleko finds a pharmacy. Leaving the others recovering in a café, the three valid team members walk around the colored houses, savoring the sweetness of Chiloé's little capital. Come with us... Read the Anecdote and watch the Video.

We hit the road again. Ithaca and Marco seem a little bit better. The pick up is quite loaded, and Vale and Nicole had to go in the open-air boot. Marcos is worried: we drive across many police roadblocks, but no one stops us. As for Aleko, he worries for something else: looking behind, he notices that the two girls, usually talkative, don't say anything more.

It's 8 in the evening when we arrive at last in Puerto Montt. We kiss Carmen and Marcos, and promise to see each other very soon.

When they get off the car, Vale and Maya look at the Team members and say: "We don't feel very well"...

Signora Maria Guala's little house is all made of wood. The old woman welcomes us with a great smile. Inside, an old tea pot boils on the oven, heating the room.

The small and strong lady has tied her hair. "Today, they're white, and I feel like to be clearer myself !".

With our friend Teresa, Maria tells us how she brought her 8 sons by herself.

Then the tone of her voice lowers down when she begins to speak about the legends and mysteries of the island. They're part of the culture and the social behavior of all of us here, they're between superstition and white magic. Then she talks about the usefulness of maintaining the culture of herb trade. Vale and Nicole ask her to prepare an infusion for Theo, Marco et Ithaca. The old woman vanishes in her little greenhouse and select a few herbs with a lot of precautions. Then she gently gives the leaves to the girls: "That will cure them... the evil will disappear..." Watch the video.

The Car@van lives today its 100th day of travel. Day after day, it's becoming a phenomenon, always in evolution and transformation around the planet. Together with you, we're creating a platform of events that goes across the spaces to meet different cultures, colors and perfumes in our fantastic world. We're very happy to share this with you ! The Team.

CASTRO Castro, capital of the island of Chiloé, is full of charm. With about 15 000 inhabitants, Castro was founded in the XVIth century by a Spanish conquistador. Castro's architecture has many different styles. In the center stands the San Francisco Cathedral, declared World Heritage by Unesco. The incredible orange and purple monument, made of wood and sheet metal, was built in 1906 by an Italian architect.
In Castro's entrances, red, blue, yellow fishermen houses - palafitos - on stilts stand on the cove. Here come to live many artists and restoration lovers. But watch the video...

If you wish to go one day in Chiloé, visit our friends Marcos and Carmen and participate in their dream. To know more about it, here's their site: www.puertonativo.cl and their e-mail: puertonativo@hotmail.com We'll cross the boarder by bus to go to Bariloche. Then, flight to Buenos Aires. By the way, the new voting form is on-line... check it out !


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