Day 3 (October 9, 2018) in Baku, Azerbaijan

Today was a busy day for me. I gave my first, an hour long, lecture before lunch. I stayed in the meeting room for the rest of the day. Late in the afternoon, which is at the end of the daily program of the school, all the conference attendees were taken to the city to watch the space weather movie at the planetarium dome, operated by the academy of science of Azerbaijan. The dome is located at the top of one of the biggest mall in Baku. The movie was about the Sun and its impact on our environment and technological systems, which was well aligned with the objective of our school. After the school the Bostonian went out, looking for dinner within the premises of the mall. Finally, we came to our hotel.

This is the hotel (Pullman Hotel) where we'll be hiding for the next couple of days!

Day 2 (October 8, 2018) in Baku, Azerbaijan

Good morning Baku, I slept like a baby. Very excited to kick off our scientific mission in a few hours.

Partial view of Baku from my hotel balcony!

The conference was opened by the president of Azerbaijan national academy of science. Unlike other similar meetings that I attended, the opening ceremony of this meeting was attended by member of Parliament, ministers and deputy ministers of different government offices. Of course, it was also flooded with media crews.

This is the title of our scientific mission for the week

Listening and watching what is happening at the opening ceremony!

As expected I had a busy day at work. At the evening, we were taken to one of the fancy restaurant, Shirvanshah Museum Restaurant, at the center of the city. It was a conference dinner sponsored by Azercosmos. Azercosmos is an Open Joint Stock Company (OJSCo) and the only satellite operator in Caucasus established on May 3rd 2010 and fully owned by the government of Azerbaijan Republic. To my surprise, the company managed to successfully launched the first-ever satellite of Azerbaijan (Azerspace-1) on February 8th 2013, in less than 3 years of its establishment. The company is now providing highly reliable, satellite-based communication services to enterprise and government customers for DTH, voice, video, data and mobility applications. It shows me that if there is full collaboration and trust within everyone involved, anything is possible. It reminds me “YES WE CAN” slogan! 

Pictures from the dinner gathering!

Day 1 (October 7, 2018) in Baku, Azerbaijan

After a long journey, we arrived at Baku international airport at about 9pm, Azerbaijan local time. The immigration process was very straight forward, however, we had to wait for others to arrive so that the drivers will take everybody to our hotel in one trip. Since we arrived late, fearing we wouldn’t get open restaurant at our hotel, we ended up to have McDonald (only one still open at the airport) sandwich for dinner. Finally we arrived at our hotel, Pullman Hotels and Resorts, at 11:00pm. On our way to our hotel, which is a bit over 30-min drive from the airport, I saw so many interesting architectural buildings. Two of them attracted my attention. A terminal in the vicinity of the airport and a stadium. The terminal looks like a well designed cathedral church. The stadium, which is fully colored and look like rounded TV screen when it is viewed from outside, is another amazing architect that I witnessed.
Finally, I settled in my room and will crash to bed soon. The scientific mission that brought me to Baku will start tomorrow, and hope will have more to report by then.

 If you think this is a well crafted cathedral church, you're mistaken. It is airport terminal at the Baku international airport.

This reminds me a commercial billboard screen, but actually it is a stadium in the center of Baku.

Day 12 (November 20, 2017) in Puerto Varas, Chile

Last day in Chile. I went to University of Chile to give my lecture at the summer school, which was one of my scientific mission in Chile. I returned back to my hotel late in the afternoon and took an Uber and headed to Santiago international airport. Our flight departed ontime. Looking forward to be home. 

Waiting my connection flight at Chicago airport!

Day 11 (November 19, 2017) in Puerto Varas, Chile

Today is election day, and most of the shops and restaurants are closed. We did not go out and spent most of the day in our room, working. In late afternoon we went out for a walk and would like to have beer with Mark but we figured out that no alcohol until 8pm on election day. We toured around if we could find any restaurant that broke the rule and serve beer, but without success. So, we had to go back to our hotel and wait and planned to meet at 7:30pm at the French restaurant for dinner. The funny thing was, the restaurant has dress code and returned one of us who wear saddles. Finally, we all made to the restaurant and had very nice dinner and beer of course.

Santiago landscape from my hotel window

Day 10 (November 18, 2017) in Puerto Varas, Chile

Today is the eve of presidential election Chile. Since no election campaign within 72hr election day, it seems a bit quiet. We went to do hiking to the top of San Cristobal, which a statue of St Marry is erected at the top of the hill. From the top of the hill, one can clearly see the entire city of Santiago. It is so magnificent view. There is cable car that goes all the way to the top of the hill.  The hill, which is 300m above the rest of city, is located at the northern part of Santiago. Before the arrival of the Spanish forces in Chile, the hill was venerated by the indigenous population and known as Tupahue, meaning “Place of God” in Mapundungun (indigenous Chilean language). However, after the Spanish force arrived, the Spanish conquistadors for St Christopher changed the name to Cerro San Cristóbal in recognition of its use as a landmark.

 Heading to the top of San Cristobal hill!

The San Cristóbal hill first served as a home for Mills Observatory (currently known as the Manuel Foster Observatory) in 1903. BTW, Mills observatory is a twin of the Lick Observatory of the University of California. Later the hill dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, with statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The statue, which was designed by Luigi Poletti and constructed by Giuseppe Obici, is believed to be a reproduction of the “Virgin of Rome”. The construction of the statue cost 22,000 francs at the time. The first stone to build the statue was placed on the 8 December 1904 and the officially inaugurated on 26 April 1908. The statue measures 14 meters tall and weighs 36,610 kg. The pedestal on which the statue rests is 8.3 meters in height, and within the pedestal there is a small chapel in which Pope John Paul II prayed and blessed the city of Santiago on April 1, 1987. The statue is lit up at night by lights placed on its sides, allowing it to be viewed from all over Santiago both day and night. Currently the statue is in good condition, and was given a thorough clean and repaint in early 2012.

 St Marry Statue at the top of San Cristobal hill!

 This is where Pope John Paul II prayed and blessed the city of Santiago on April 1, 1987

 

Most importantly, you really enjoy the magnificent view of Santiago city from the top of the hill!

 I was also very lucky to pause picture with his Holiness Pop Francis at the top of the hill!

At the foot of the Blessed Virgin Mary statue there is Capilla La Maternidad de Maria Church for holding masses or other religious ceremonies.

 Capilla La Maternidad de Maria Church at top of San Cristobal hill

The Chilean National Zoo, a Japanese-style garden, and two municipal pools (Tupahue and Antilén) are also located at the foothills of Cerro San Cristóbal. Cerro San Cristóbal also houses Santiago's largest public park: the Santiago Metropolitan Park (Parque Metropolitano). 

Day 9 (November 17, 2017) in Puerto Varas, Chile

Today is the last day of the conference that brought us here. It is also our last day in Puerto Varas and will head off back to Santiago, and make my lecture preparation to the space weather summer school that starts on Monday. I'll give a lecture on Monday before I leave Chile for home.

Mountain view from Puerto Varas!

We picked our shuttle at 4:30pm to Puerto Mott airport for our flight that departs at 7:23pm. Everything went smooth and arrived at Santiago airport safely, took a taxi to our hotel. However, the hotel, for some reason, cancelled our reservation, but we were lucky enough there were room available and we got re-booked. Finally, we settled into our room safely.

 Bye Bye Hotel Cabana Del Lago in Puerto Varas!