Travel to Switzerland, Italy, France and Brazil
Once I returned to Uruguay to work as I spent the best times of my life or in the U. California, USA (1970 1974). Teaching several courses, giving seminars, attending conferences, and most importantly conducting several research projects on animal viruses. The first research project was about: Isolation and characterization of mycoplasma of bovine origin. SA-B4 Project (1969-1970). Research Committee. Faculty of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine. Universidad de Chile. Responsible investigator.
The two major research projects that allowed me to start research on virology systematically animal were
virological study respiratory disease of mammals and birds. Project A 147 (1976 - 1982). And virological study of digestive diseases in animals of economic importance. Project A 1648 (1983 - 1990). Department of Research Development. Universidad de Chile. Responsible investigator.
Both projects were approved in its final report and its findings published in national and international scientific journals and presented at various conferences. I always thought I should point out that research, if possible, should be published in national magazines, due to the wording of them, and the possibility that some readers would have more access chilensis national magazines.
In 1979 I attended the first international Latin American Congress of Microbiology in Viña del Mar ...
1 .- TRIP TO SWITZERLAND (Lausanne), 1979
This was a field trip!
I managed to get a scholarship to attend a course in immunology at Lausanne due to a sum of coincidences:
In the area of \u200b\u200bhigher veterinary clinic of the "U" read a notice of grant from the WHO. I realized that was made for me. Proficiency in English required, working or teaching in immunology and be Ph.D. or have some other post title grade. Done. I went downtown to the offices of PAHO and I attended a named Dr. Condom or something ... who told me coldly that that grant was not for veterinarians. I gave him my background, but NO, it was not even possible because it was outside the deadline for submissions, which was not true. So I ran, filled a heavy form, with 7 copies and gave it. Fortunately I had a good idea, I made an extra copy and sent it directly to Dr. PH Lambert with a note written by hand, he stated that everything that was written was true, incidentally, did not ask for any documentation ... and you I added the leadership of three prominent figures who could attest to that. One was Mc Kercher! Months passed and I received no response.
One day my wallet, which was a friend, I asked if my name was Berríos-Etchegaray because there was a package post of Chile lags. I went to look for, and was a book of immunology Roitt, I sent to be read and studied before the course. Immediately I requested written confirmation that he had never received ... When I arrived at my home I immediately went to the office of Dr. Condom or something, I blurted out that he had passed the deadline and therefore I would not sign the pass PAHO was necessary to start the process. I showed the letter Lambert approval and NO.'s definitely NO! Then came the Basque carry inside, and yelled that I was not in the office until he had signed the endorsement by PAHO in Chile ... also took a punch in the secretary's desk and kept yelling. Within minutes I had my hands on the authorization. The passages I came to the old style of these institutions one week before the start of the course. I traveled on Air France to Paris. From there to Geneva in an old plane Carabello almost fallen into disuse. In Lausanne I arrived in a beautiful and modern bus. The next day I took a tour of Lake Geneva on a boat tour. On Monday I was in the course of immunology with about 40 colleagues around the world, African, Asian and South American.
stayed in a mixed campus. My apartment was next to an Argentina. Beyond a Venezuelan. But every man for himself ... Ah! And the bathrooms were mixed well, which was an inconvenience for Latinos, we were not accustomed to this kind of promiscuity ...
Saliéndome a bit of the course, I was able to come up with all partners to Le Diablerette was about 3,500 meters in the Alps. To get so high you had to use three types of cable cars. In the third came to be scary, but anyway, from above the valley could be seen as small that it seemed to go on an airplane. And the high peaks were so close and so beautiful ... Unforgettable. Another day we went to a nearby village where they were in full traditional feast. I danced on a stage with a Swiss lady who told me that the Chileans were the best in South America ahead of the others ... and when he knew that my mother's maiden name was Etchegaray had an explosion of joy because she was a descendant of Basque ... Very nice the party with colorful costumes dancing but rather fomes ... Another day I went to Avon on the border with France, together with my friend Elena who was in Caracas and obviously speak English ... With a group that was not the course, ate fondue cheese and beer, in quantities as it could do in those years where I did not worry or cholesterol or hypertension ... I met
Geneva, WHO Headquarters, Berne and Bayer, Zurich a beautiful city , Lucerne, a city of Italian origin, and Montreux with its beautiful lakeside casino. In Lausanne the towers went up a couple of Protestant churches, and from there saw the beautiful panorama of the city. An anecdote was found in the area of \u200b\u200bthe bells, with a gringo who were obviously pissing panties removed ... Incredible but true!
Even a weekend we went to Italy in a rented car, an African friend and two doctors from Nigeria, which is not allowed to enter Italy for not having visas. From Switzerland to Italy Alpine pass below, on the San Bernardino tunnel about 20 miles long. Awesome. And in Switzerland there was a dry leaf or cow poop in the fields, across Italy, the cream was dirt on the edges of the road. Many castles along the road and many bridges and tunnels. A beautiful road. In Italy I met Milan with its cathedral of a thousand peaks, Venice with its houses and bridges over the sea, its shelves and the Plaza de San Marcos. The Italians full of warmth, and exquisite food and wine ...!
return to the course. Too good course. Very basic. By researchers. And very ... Nothing veterinary doctor. Even a great lady of the WHO referred badly to the symbiosis of Calmette and Guérin, a veterinary doctor to another, saying the veto Guérin had served only to sustain the animals. How wrong I was! Guerin has published about 40 scientific papers. In any case, the course helped me enough to upgrade the teaching of immunology at the graduate!
I can not remember the phobia in Europe was against Pinochet. When I talked with some of the exiles, they told me to avoid talking to the "hot heads" not going to forgive me my way of seeing things in Chile, and that I was izquiedista ... One day we went to an immunology laboratory I found a poster that had a skull, with the classic German helmet as a background of Hitler and Pinochet's face. No comments.
2 .- Switzerland (Zurich) I went to Italy (Rome)
I spent a day in Zurich a beautiful city near perfect. From there I went to Rome. The first thing I saw was the Colosseum, filled with cats, I was in the place where the lions ate the Christians ... I appreciated the extraordinary sculptures and Moses Piedad de Miguel Angel! And the monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi, unifier of Italy. Breathes ancient Rome, its churches, its streets and monuments, all worth seeing! I took a tour and got into the vast catacombs of St. Catherine, so impressive was that I came to claustrophobia. I will never forget! One day I walked to the Vatican, appreciate the stunning beauty of the Cathedral of St. Peter, was in the Sistine Chapel and the Tomb of the popes, as I had money I would sneak into the small tours to listen to boring stories architects, Dukes et al. The best thing I did was climb up the dome and walk among the apostles who are high up on the roof. Truth. Ah! Pope in USA was on a trip that was all as a landmark! Bored of walking took a tour cheaper and went to the Isle of Capri with its sea caves and a beautiful sea of \u200b\u200bviolet blue. Before we had gone to Naples, the birthplace of Sophia Loren, and maybe the Vesuvius volcano, towering on the horizon ... Unfortunately I could not go to Florence, city of art ...
3 .- From Rome to Paris
first thing I did in Paris was off the plane and go to the Sacre Coeur Cathedral is located near the Latin Quarter. This imposing cathedral is big. From there, "descended" to the center of Paris appreciating the beauty of the French and their taste for fashion. In those years he wore the purple. All women's clothing were shades of this color. There is little you doubt that the French have good taste in clothes. Then I met the Notre Dame Cathedral with its beautiful Romanesque style. Obviously I took a ride on the Seine in a modern boat for tourists. I also met the tomb of Napoleon. I climbed to the top of the Eiffel tower over 300 feet high. Quite a show, the tower itself, and appreciate the landscape from above.
best of the trip was my visit to the Louvre Museum. I had the good sense to go first to the area where I appreciated the sculpture Venus de Milo, beautiful, I could not resist the temptation to touch a leg, the code of Hammurabi engraved on a diorite stela, a jet black. And the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, Egyptian reliefs and a lot of ancient relics of the empire egicio. I really enjoyed all these sculptures and antiques that are only in the French museum. The next day I visited the extraordinary museum with its finest painting of Leonardo da Vinci "The Mona Lisa" also called "La Gioconda." Do not forget the mysterious smile that seems to make fun of the beholder ... Then I saw many pictures of different schools, who simply got tired and did not appreciate its beauty ... Some veterinary
. One day I took the subway and went to visit the Alfort Veterinary School. The building of eighteenth century French style, very old, I recalled the veterinary school of the Fifth Normal. I got talking to some teachers, but my French was not good, and they do not speak English in principle. That if you gave me some papers.
4 .- From Paris to Rio de Janeiro
I should not have spent my time and my little money on this scale. I felt the blow of poverty while traveling by bus from the airport to downtown Rio. This contrasts with what we saw in Switzerland, Italy and France ... Years later travel to Brazil several times. Anyway, I went to the Pan American Foot invited by Dr. Vicente Astudillo, Chilean, who had advised me on my thesis in statistics. Grande Institute and with very good laboratories. All dedicated foot and mouth disease, and epidemiologic study of this disease in South America. Dr. Roberto M. Goic PAHO advisor invited me to lunch at his house, a splendid mansion with beautiful lush courtyards filled with flowers. The next day I returned to Chile and my work in college.
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