Patiperra in pictures

I am still going to post some stuff on this blog. Particularly I'd like to plot down some words on how we got stuck at the border control when leaving Chile, and how we also moved mountains to make it out of the country two days later... story, hopefully coming soon on this blog...

But for know I leave you with some pictures from Santiago's less traveled roads.

Christmas greetings to Santa at Correo de Chile. This is where I got the idea to take my kids here and select a letter from a child with less resources and do the "Karl-Bertil Johnson-deed" (Swedes you know what I am talking about, Chileans as well)

This caracol shopping center in the center is filled with Peruvian foods. Excellent for anyone in love with Peruvian cuisine. Blessing in the streets of Santiago these days (except for when the food gives you side effects..)

That Spanish invasion. The second one. The "Telefonica Tower" or is it "Movistar" these days. And the Mapocho river, which I wish would be in better shape than this...

Brazilian dance at the Diplomat Lady's Bazar. I trained her well. We used to do Latin dance classes together, when she was in my tummy. The investment is paying off...

We missed the colorful dance by these ladies (from Guatemala?). Had to go home and decorate a Christmas tree, unfortunatelly.

We also missed the Peruvian show. Must have been good!

One day in the city center on the way to the library I walked by the Mapuche Pharmacy. A little bit disappointed, many products imported from Europe (Weleda etc). But maybe the medicine itself was pure indigenous. But I went to see the real machi somewhere else (see below).

Here the list of the herbs and the treatments at the Pharmacy.

That day I ate at a restaurant down the road. La Pica de Clinton. Famous for the coke that Bill Clinton had at this place when he visited Chile way back in the 1990s.

I ate in the cellar because there was no space upstairs. On the telly the Chileans and Peruvians where debating who should have the ownership of a piece of the Pacific Ocean (which maybe at the end of the day should be claimed by the Bolivians...). What a mess. In the streets and in the restaurant I herd people debating whether what was going on in the Hague actually had anything to do with the common Chilean/Peruvian or whether it was just a gimmic of the big corporations. The owners of the big fisheries that is. Interesting stuff from and identity/legitimacy perspective.

Then one day on the way to the library I walked by the new housing development on the road Santa Isabel in the city center. Old traditional houses have been replaced by these new modern ones.

I gather the days of the red house are counted.

Expiration date way overdue...

And they dress it up as "sustainable". Flashy.

Then my machi experience. Took place at this place. In Pudahuel. I haven't blogged about it. Might do it one day still...If I find inspiration. It was a nice experience. And I ate all my herbal medicine!

This day when I went for my herbal refill they were producing some creams. Don't know exactly for what. But the one I bough earlier was supposedly good for thyroid problems.

This is the Ruka where the Machi attended the public. In the middle of what would be categorized as a "poor neighborhood", very very close to the airport. In case you wonder.

From one reality to another. The day befor Christmas at the shopping mall. Crazy crazy, consumption frenzy. (and what on earth was I doing at this place?!?)

Christmas Eve at the local hyper market. Couldn't believe my eyes, had to take a picture. All those loads of toys, warehouses and truck loads filled with toys, suddenly gone. Empty space, in a hyper market. Couldn't believe it. Consumption is really that heavy just before Christmas!

Another picture of the empty shelves at the hyper market. (which by the way is nowadays owned by Walmart...once again, what the heck was I doing here? And on Christmas Eve on all days of the year!)