This photo of the Cathedral of Santiago, Chile was taken last Jaunary before the terrible earth quake.
I arrived here after langauage school in Cochabamba in 1973. Chile was going through a very difficult time under the Socialist government of Salvadore Allende. I had just left a military government in Bolivia. But here it was worst with many strikes and shortages of food, toilet paper and other items that were necessary. Meat was also ration.
Father Thomas Kirchmeyer was the Suprior a the time. Bro. Bob Power and I went to the center of the city of Santiage near the Moneda and there were demonstrations going on.
In fact some military tanks were on the street.
When we return to our Maryknoll house on Vasco de Gama, Father Tom asked us where have we been and we told him in the city and he wasn't too happy about it due to all the disturbances that were going on.
A few days later after getting registered by the Chilean government. I then took a very long train ride to Concepcion, Chile. It was more than 12 hours. The train was stopped many times due to disturbancea sn rocks put on the tracks. Fortunately a young man gave me his poncho which is a large blanket to keep warm because there was no heat and all the windows were open.
Finally arrived in Concepcion and Father Manuel Mejia picked me up to take me home.
No comments:
Post a Comment