8.8

For years the earthquake has been expected in Chile, but when it finally happens, it is hard to believe what is actually going on or how to react to it. The last bad one was in 1985, and now it hit the middle regions of Chile again.

As the 8.8 grade earthquake on Richter scale happened, were we happily in a taxi on our way home after a night out. As we were in a moving car, and the roads of Santiago tend to be in a bad shape, we didn't pay much attention to the bumpy ride nor feel the tremors nearly as bad as the people who were inside their appartments. They must have been scared! Just when we pulled over in front our building around 3.40am in the morning did the taxi driver say that was an earthquake. All of our neighbours were out in their nighties, but remained surprisingly calm. Everybody was waiting that the electricity would come back and hoping that the tremors would be over and the water would be stopped running down the staircase on time before finding its way to the appartments.

Some brave - or foolish - ones (like us) slipped their way back upstairs to get the valuables and some money they could. After returning downstairs we just remained waiting in the hall of the building, because at least from the ground floor it is faster to storm out if the earthquake grows stronger again. The higher up, the bigger the damages, usually. However, especially the newer buildings are built on sort of rubber which enables the building to adjust to the shaking and reduces the risk of crumbling down.

Lukas' office on the 21st floor suffered enormous damages. In some buildings in Santiago the windows broke, the walls were coming off, tiles were falling down - not to mention the material damages to the property inside the appartment. Some were luckier than others. The worst damages (and the victims) took definitely place on the coast in Concepción and Valparaíso.

At times it was a cacophony of sounds - the alarms in the flats, in the buildings and police, rescue and fire department sirens kept on screaming. The news gave constant update but nothing or no one advised us how to react or behave in this situation. After the electricity came back on in the morning after two hours of darkness and the day started to become lighter, also people went back to their appartments and started literally picking up the pieces.

The not-knowing - whether you can return once to your home, whether the worst is already over, whether your friends made it or not - is bad enough. But when you add the worried relatives, the after shock as well as the after shakes, which, by the way, have been going on all day, you can be sure you are not able to sleep one eyefull. No matter how tired you are!

So many questions keep circling in your mind! How are everyone? What's happening next? What if it strikes even harder, what should I do? It's a scary thought that there is no place to go, where we would be safer. As our neighbour from Minnesota said, at least a tornado you see coming and you have enough time to react and find safe. But how do you see when an earthquake is coming?

As soon as the phone lines were working, the Finnish Embassy contacted us to see that we're fine, but we would have liked to have more information about the practical side of the incident: are the shops open? When does the water start running again? Can we use the gas stove or is it dangerous?

Would be actually interesting to follow how the animals behave in such a situation. They sense that something is going to happen, and instictively hide next to a bigger object, not under it. Many people falsely believe that they should hide under a table or bed, but this actually is much more surer way to die. Instead, they should hide next to that furniture, because if the roof falls or a cupboard bends over it, it won't be crushing you under its weight.

We are so happy that nothing more serious happened. Luckily we were able to get the Internet and phone working enough to inform home and calm down the folks. But I think I've never missed home and its secure earth this much. And I pray and hope that the people who lost someone during the quake will make through this.

Dead Chicken in Heat

A week has already passed as I returned from the vacationes in Europe back to Santiago. It was sure nice to come to full summer! The flat was nearly as we left it, except for one little thing: it stunk like a dead chicken. Lovely. The cruel Chilean electricity company had decided to cut off the electricity in our flat because of one unpaid bill (since we were travelling we naturally didn't receive the bill). The amount of the bill: 7 Euros. Of course the chicken that we had left in the freezer had been brewing in there for a month. In the winter it might have not been such an issue, but in the summer, when the outside temperature is +33 Celsius degrees and inside temperature only few degrees less, you can imagine the smell... Well, you live, you learn, right?

Dust gathers really fast in the big city so my paws are constantly black no matter how often you sweep the floors. Anyhow, after cleaning I managed to "install" curtains to the bedroom and living room with a patent mecanism that a very creative and talented friend of mine told me: double sided sticker that you are able to take off and put on again if you will. Great, it works! Thank you Jasmine. :)

The hot air of the city has also driven the urban stray dogs on holidays. There are only a few brave ones in the city to be seen. I would go too, if I could. Yesterday I came back from the beaches of Viña del Mar, and there the weather is 10 degrees cooler as in the city! With the wonderful sea breeze blowing you don't even notice the sunshine. Not that I complain after the weeks I spent in Finnish winter.

As soon as the flat is as ready as it can be I will publish some pictures. Until then, I will continue enjoying the heat of Santiago and the coolness of our rooftop pool!