Apparently there are quite a few folk out there that don't believe my story, or call it hyperbole or even worse. My In Box has filled with vitriol and hate, and I've been called any number of names on Internet forums. How about a report from someone who lives in Puerto Natales, posted on CNN's site? Note carefully the words in his first two paragraphs. Also note that the impact of the strike is already considered monetarily negative to the region. Or perhaps this notice from the US Embassy that wasn't posted on their site, but on a local Chilean travel site (and why was that)? Note the "an unknown number of tourists, including Americans, are unable...to travel freely." That would have been me and my group, and at the time the notice was posted, that would have been for three days that we couldn't travel freely.
Just to be clear: I'm not rich and I have nothing against the poor. I have a long track record of trying to help others as best I can. The irony of the recent situation is clear and overwhelming, though. Here I am at home where the outside temperature is 22F and my thermostat is set to 64F, but I was actually trapped by people protesting that their gas rates were going to be less subsidized while in rooms that were set to 80F (and couldn't be lowered by me) when the outside temperature was 64F. Some apparently think that sort of statement is "condescending." It is not. It's a statement of (directly observed) fact and illustrates some of the sillyness behind the protests. The protest was much more about political balance of power in the region than it was about the poor struggling to pay their heating bills. At the moment, the poor in the region don't seem to have figured that out yet, though.
Two common questions I've received need answering:
- What about trip insurance? Most trip insurances only reimburse costs paid where services weren't rendered, and most preclude repayment for strikes, riots, terrorism, or war. The extra costs I and others incurred wouldn't normally be repaid under any circumstance, and I wasn't denied any of the services I had paid for (as we were stopped essentially on the last day of the trip).
- Why didn't I post on my site during the situation? Not only did I have Internet access, but so did those holding me. Given that there were mild but threatening behaviors against the tourists at several times during those days, I did not want to do anything that might provoke escalation of that. Citizens of the area that were writing about the situation on the local Internet forums were hiding behind anonymous names, which told me that they, too, feared retribution.
This will be the last I write about this on my site (though I'll probably update some details in my original article, especially anything that I find out is inaccurate or needs further explanation). I'd like to now get back mostly to writing about photography, if I may.
Finally, a thank you to all of you who sent positive messages or just simple "glad you're home safely" emails. They were very much appreciated.