Sleepover in the Campo

The Mapuche New Year, called We Xipantu o Nquillatún, is one of the indigenous culture's major holidays. Taking place during the Winter Solstice, We Xipantu involves specific ceremonial rituals and celebrates the harvest. More information can be found here: http://www.interpatagonia.com/paseos/ano_nuevo_mapuche13/index_i.html

We were invited to sleepover at a friend's house in the campo near Chol-Chol during We Xipantu, and although we did not end up celebrating in the traditional sense, many of her neighbors and relatives stopped by to spend some down-time together and enjoy delicious food. Getting a chance to walk around neighboring the farmland during sunset and then again the following morning was also very refreshing.

One other interesting (and unrelated) observation about the weekend, was that the running water in our friend's house stops working every once in a while. Apparently the public funds that are supposed to cover running water were misused- the community chose to install a cheaper piping system and is paying for the consequences now- lots of reparation fees that end up costing more and creating water-flow issues every once in a while. When this happens, she has to drive and fill up 45 liters of water in buckets to store in her house for the week.

Local Lunch

this pork came from a neighbor's farm

Maté

brewed with local herbs, including Bailahuén, which is supposed to be good at cleansing the body and getting rid of gases

Porotos

beans growing around the house

Bedtime Brushing!