Colours, contrasts, fractures ...

An attempt to describe Chile, the country that stretches over 4,300 km along the west coast of South America between the 17th and 56th degrees southern latitude, must contain words like these.

The colours are coming from the soil and rocks with their many minerals; the small, sprawling houses of the villages; the bright light from the blue sky as the sun rises over the Andes; the enchanting sunsets when it again disappears below the wide horizon of the Pacific Ocean.

The contrasts are everywhere, in nature – in a country spanning almost all climate zones; in the society that after three decades of explosive economic growth strives for Western prosperity, yet still struggles with third world wealth distribution problems.

The fractures are also everywhere: In the extreme drought of the desert, in mountains and cliffs, tortured by hundreds of years of earthquakes; in a staunchly conservative catholic society that is waking up to 21th century ideas about family planning, gender equality and the rights of sexual minority groups; in the community with its striking social and economic imbalances; in history, with its dramatic shifts between colonial rule and independence, between democracy and hope and the brutal iron grip of dictatorship, between modern culture and those of the indigenous peoples, the Mapoches and Atacameños, increasingly aware – and proud – of their own rich history and traditions.

Since 1982, the author has been a frequent visitor to Chile. While by no means a comprehensive description of this amazing country. this book is, however, his personal tribute to the country.