Chile, Venezuela and the bus

The two countries don't have a border. They are 5,000km apart, but now more than ever, the countries are linked, since large numbers of refugees from the Maduro regime head for Chile. Nobody knows exact numbers, but 3-5 million people have escaped the Venezuelan regime and settled mainly in Colombia, Chile, and Argentina.

Even with the exodus from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan to Europe the numbers are not as big as the displacements in Latin America , and of course Latino countries don't have resources like Europe and their borrowing capacity is limited .

Nevertheless, we witness kindness and friendliness towards migrants. Even if some taxi drivers say they are responsible for a rise in crime, and its true, the stretched resources have led to protests in Santiago. Overall, it looks like a classic immigration, the immigrants fill jobs the locals prefer not to do, in catering, in low paid services like hairdressers , and in tougher jobs like mining and mineral extraction.

After leaving San Pedro de Atacama this morning, we dropped off our car at Calama airport and headed for the bus station in a taxi, all 6 of us, and all of our bags. We ask the taxi driver if our impression is right that the town is booming and he says yes, alongside the traditional business of copper, silver and gold mining there is now lithium the magic ingredient in rechargeable batteries.

We ask him what's the population? He says nobody knows due to the immigration. He explains that mining companies let immigrants erect houses on the companies' land, but the government doesn't count these houses or people. It seems they turn a blind eye. Overall, this taxi driver thinks the situation is ok, as everyone is benefiting from the growth.

From Calama, we take an 8 hour bus ride to Arica (605km), which is near the Peruvian border. The entire journey is through the Atacama Desert. Areas with dry flat plains change to low rolling hills. All dry, no visible sign of any life, not even plants in most places. What we do see occasionally is very large-scale solar power and less often windmills. Nice to see that renewables flourish here, possibly without subsidies, because there is endless sun and a fair amount of wind. When the bus stops briefly at a tiny shop, we see all the cars there covered in a thick layer of dust.

One thing that's changed in Latam out of all recognition is the buses. Gone are the rickety, hot, overcrowded buses, and "in" are modern buses with lots of space, fully reclining seats, and aircon. I tell the kids this is a super business class bus. It's a joke on my part, but in fact, it's true that the standard often exceeds anything you can find in Europe. To quote Flo, " Best bus ever!"もっと詳しく