temuco

temuco isn't exactly cherished as a top tourist destination in a country with its fair share of untouched natural reserves, active volcanoes, massive deserts, and oceanside development, but i wanted to see where my host family was from and had heard about the incredible, indigenous-good ridden markets. in hindsight, i'm super glad i made it to temuco, because it had some serious charm.

historically, chile's south is relevant beyond it's obvious beauty. the Mapuche peoples, indigenous to the region, fought colonial spaniards in this region for centuries, waging one of the most successful resistance movements against any colonial presence in the americas. sadly, now the most notable Mapuche presence is the ubiquity of their handcrafted products - ponchos, gorros, wooden crafts, and traditional instruments - found in southern markets, the most notable of which is temuco's mercado municipal.

temuco also has some incredible street markets, filled to the brim with fresh, delicious seafood, fruits, vegetables, and cheeses. the best part of these street markets is the ubiquity of (cheap!) food stands where you can sample the goods.

$3 caldillo de mariscos, verdict: GOOD.

the must stunning mural in chile?

the best part of temuco. la abuela and her cozy domicile. that's her down there with my new hand puppet feliz. she named him. i treasure the name like i treasure my grandma.