Centre for Maritime Archaeology alumni (University of Southampton) reunited in Chile! Diving on a shipwreck in Valparaiso. I’ll update this soon with more about the wreck and what diving is like here, so stay tuned!
Wreck diving in Valparaiso
Tag Archives: valparaiso
My first earthquake!
I felt my first earthquake this past Monday night, 25th Jan 2016!
According to Centro Sismológico Nacional it was of:
“Richter Magnitude 5, 61 Km NW of Valparaiso, Chile.”
Apparently these more moderate earthquakes are quite common and daily, though we only feel them if they are above a magnitude of 4.5. Just to give you a little background, Chile is on a subduction boundary, generated by the collision between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates (and bordering the Antartic plate). The most powerful and “largest recorded earthquake in the world” happened off the coast of Chile in 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5!!
Also, my South American friend told me you can download the ‘Quakewatch’ app to keep updated on earthquake activity around the world.
Shipwrecks & Runways
VALPARAISO! As the bus turned beyond a mountain pass, I was suddenly welcomed by an explosion of kaleidoscopic colours of Santiago’s bohemian sister town, known to the locals as Valpo! And my new home. A dynamic harbour-town built over 45 hills on which its traditional elevators, ascensores, still trundle up and down the steep hills, cerros. From atop you breathe in this city with all its beautiful chaos, the same views that inspired the Chilean poet and activist Pablo Neruda’s poetry, and many others. This city re-awakened my senses and thirst for creativity. At every turn, I was faced with gritty multi-hued houses and alleys, with the town acting as a canvas for inspiring street art representing post-dictatorship progressive political expressions and movements. It was great to dive and explore Valparaiso’s bay, aside from the cold Pacific waters! The many shipwrecks and artefacts discovered in its bay continue to give us clues into its historic past, having been a strategic port during the gold rush for trading vessels rounding Cape Horn, which led to its boom and cosmopolitan nature. Street performers and Latin rhythms always resonated across Valpo, bringing the streets to life. Art festivals showcased influential artists like Chilean rapper and activist Ana Tijoux. I even made it onto the local newspaper once, enjoying a wine tasting event which gathered traditional wineries from around the country! It is also the town where I experienced my first earthquake – though common in Chile, the sudden strong trembling that pulsated through the apartment shook me! A fond memory was my weekly stroll by the seaside where I would be greeted by an unexpected horde of large sun-bathing playful seals! This is Valpo!
[excerpt from my ‘Snippets of a Nomadic Year: From South America to the Balkans‘ article published in F*Shift Magazine‘s Explorer issue, Oct 2016, pp. 40-41]
I thought I’d kick off this creative trigger with my first post to this new blog…a venture I’ve been meaning to take on for a while. I lead somewhat of a double life: I’m an underwater archaeologist and international model. And so here it is, ‘Shipwrecks & Runways’ – a glimpse into my adventures around the world stemming from two of my main pursuits. Hope you enjoy the ride! 🙂
P.S. To follow my various pursuits, check out:
- For archaeology, visit my academia and linkedin in pages.
- For modelling, see my website and main portfolio on modelmanagement.
- For a mix of both and travels, find me on instagram, twitter and facebook.
Shipwrecks & Runways 