Buried in Ashes...again.

On June 4th  while we were celebrating our 17th wedding anniversary, down in Chile, a volcano called Puyehue erupted  and sent an ash cloud 6 miles up into the sky. Unfortunately San Carlos de Bariloche is only 62 miles downwind... 

Photograph: Francisco Ramos Mejia/AFP/Getty Images

This is the famous hotel Llao Llao, a few kilometers outside of town.

According to reporter Laureana Fuentes, "It turned dark from 4pm (1900 GMT) and a kind of rain started.  We can hear thunders and you can't see anything in the streets.  There is a two to three centimeter ash accumulation"

Photograph-Sofia Sandor

Ashes covered everything.  My friend Sofia shared this photo of her father's car with me.  When we lived there in 2008, I posted this. It was the first time ashes had rained down on the city in either a long time or ever, but since then it has happened three more times.

Photograph: Alfredo Leiva/AP

It was obviously quite a mess to clean up.  It also closes the airport, and puts a huge damper on the city's tourism (their whole economy is based on it).  I remember my friend, Betina was worried back then that this one would erupt.... Only 60 miles away she said forebodingly.  It's really such a beautiful place, such a shame to see it turn gray!

 On a different note, we are busy preparing to visit San Diego Comic Con.  I just received confirmation today that I'll be drawing at The Cartoon Art Museum booth again this year, and I will also be reporting on the event as a new writer for the Examiner in the "San Diego Artisans and Crafters" section.