hi hi there, thanks for the info on the mapuche, i will be finding out more on my travels north. im so annoyed no one told me about all of this history at school! i didnt hang out too long in la serena but i spent two days in the elqui valley up in pisco elqui, cochinguaz, monte grande etc. it was really spectacular and very relaxing. the mountains are fabulous. the bus ride from serena is half the fun.
the people of the earth you've had some great experiences travelling. oh how jealous we are! i just wanted to say something about the mapuche (meaning "people of the earth" in mapudungun, their language). they are not a "clan" but a collection of related indigenous people (made up of several tribes) of south central chile and argentina. the mapuche are the only indigenous group not to have been conquered by the spanish, surrending only to the chilean government in the 1880s. they are not extinct, far from it. they are the largest indigenous group in chile and number close to 1million (in a country of 16million, representing about 6% of the chilean population). santiago itself has over a quarter million mapuche. most chileans have mapuche blood in their veins. the mapuche don't live in southern patagonia and were not displaced by sheep herders. perhaps you are confusing the mapuche with the ona (from tierra del fuego) and alacalufe peoples of the aisen region of chile (region XI, between puerto montt and tierra del fuego). these people are extinct, either absorbed into the general population or killed by disease or hunted for money (like game animals, which also happend in the USA).
by the sound of it, while you were staying in santiago you were in the casa roja. that place is always full of drunk english and australians, though that's some people's cup of tea. it's a great house, but there isn't a colonial buidling for several KMs. barrio brasil dates from the 1880s through the 1930s and was where the upper and upper-middle classes lived until they moved east to providencia and las condes in the mid 20th century. the area is recovering but it is not known as santiago's "bohemian area" (though it's moving in that direction). santiago's bohemian area is barrio bellavista, between the mapocho river and cerro san cristobal (with the big virgin statue on top).
enjoy la serena, chile's only real colonial city and the country's 2nd oldest. if you have time, take a trip to the elqui valley in the interior. that's where chile's pisco production is centered. the small town of vicuña is also home to chile other nobel-lauriate gabriela mistral. lots of hippies and mystic types also flock to the elqui valley for it's cosmic energies (whatever that is), and the area also has some of the largest telescopes on earth.
cheers!
david parker! I am hanging out with your two other Buttoned Down friends, Sonia and Rosie! they are in Melb visiting family, luckily at the same time as I am here. We were just talking about you yesterday over dinner and I was telling them about your radio show, your university, your bicycle, and all the cool stuff. I will write you an email soon and you can fill me in on how your plan to be an international, multi-lingual postman is coming along. X
Lucky I googled Harold Bishop, remember that there are a few 'mericans following your adventures. I am on spring break visiting my relatives in North Carolina, which is a very nice state. Mostly i'm jealous, and planning my next trip to Sweden.
Be safe-
David
hi dude hey yeah anther camera, and another of the same type of boy! anyway he's so last week.................... miss you.... dont forget my birthday feb 18 ;) x x x
it's terrible, but in america if we hear any kind of uk accent we are compelled to listen. there was a scottish person who moved to alaska for some reason and it didn't matter what he said; it was fascinating.
I remember hearing the red hot chili peppers when i was trying (and failing) to climb a mountain in bulgaria. but worse, it reminded me of when i was at the black sea at balchik and every third restaurant catering to krauts had a singer with an old man on casio backing her up. i heard such smash hits as "hit me baby (one more time)", "crazy", and "venus".
something about that beachy feelin', i spose.
a comment We're in the Sakura Hotel in Jimbocho at the mo. This is a top entry and has persuaded us to get up early for Tsukiji tomorrow.
Sterling.
Kurisu Makumiran
Hmm Hello :]
Sounds like you're having an interesting journey.
We're all missing you here in rainy old England, mum says she hopes you're safe and stuff.
I just got back from a weekend in Watford to see my best friend Katie who moved away when i was in year 10. It was really good.
And when i came back, dad came back, and i got my special ipod nano and a keyring!
hooray for treats.
Love you very much.
xoxoxo
Fish Food Wow you in a wet suit i hope you have pictures! still you carry off skinny jeans so i'm guessing you looked pretty normal! question did you sunbathe in the wetsuit cause if you did you must have way abnormal tan lines!
wow You're so lucky to see all of this first hand, and it helps that (being a journalist) your blogs make it sound even more exciting.
Miss you always.
Hope its nice out there :]
love you xoxox
That script was very entertaining.
The bit that most reminds me of you is (insert laughably transparent, lame attempt from boy to intrigue Aoife enough that she will agree to go for a drink)
but the best bit is definitely 'But his lovely curly mane makes me want to have babies and wear Laura Ashley' because thats so like Aoife?!
haha
miss you
xxxxxx
Somewhat potty-mouthed journalist who documented her 'career gap year', in which she lived out a long-cherished dream to see the world (well, Japan, Australia, South America) here between November 2006 - September 2007, in these pages. Truer than ever to say that since coming home I've been working hard and have only had time for mini-backpacking experiences across Europe, though 2012 may involve some more exotic locales.
MA student of Latin American studies from Autumn 2012, hopefully focusing on my thesis regards the Bolivian secondhand clothing market.
You can email me at melvstern@hot... full info
Onehorsetown Loaferville
mel
hi
hi there, thanks for the info on the mapuche, i will be finding out more on my travels north. im so annoyed no one told me about all of this history at school! i didnt hang out too long in la serena but i spent two days in the elqui valley up in pisco elqui, cochinguaz, monte grande etc. it was really spectacular and very relaxing. the mountains are fabulous. the bus ride from serena is half the fun.