In Search of UFOs (II)

Paihuano, a sleepy town located amid vineyards and the low-lying fringes of the Andes chain, serves as the government hub for much of the Elqui Valley. Tourists and other visitors, drawn by the tranquility, fresh air and supposed mysterious aura of the area, are more common in nearby Monte Grande, Pisco Elqui and Vicuna, the birthplace of Nobel prize-winning female poet Gabriela Mistral. But it is Paihuano that made headlines when locals reported seeing the shiny object crash into the mountain top and I wander the town, speaking to anyone willing to discuss the matter, which is most everybody.

Jova Vega, a stout, no-nonsense 54-year-old woman who operates a small grocery store in town, described the form atop the mount as pear-shaped, shiny and orange or golden. She questioned the police explanation that a rock on the hill reflecting the sun caused the apparition, saying such a brilliant shine had never before been visible. Police roped off the area to the public after the object appeared and carried out two horseback expeditions up the mount, which authorities say yielded nothing out of the ordinary.

"There are many theories and there is a lot of talk," Vega said, recalling other tales of UFO sightings in the area. However, whatever the object was, it disappeared in the wee hours of the following morning, carried off by a helicopter, she alleged.

Police Lt. Sergio Fuenzalida, who led the expeditions up the hill, acknowledged that many of the witnesses to the shiny object are respected citizens.

"They're people who aren't going to lie," said Fuenzalida, no relation to the Santiago ufologist. "What did they see? I don't know."

Nonetheless, La Serena ufologist Patricio Di­az expressed little doubt something out of the ordinary occurred.