On the day after Easter, it’s fitting that we visit Easter Island. This remote Chilean territory was discovered and named on Easter Sunday, 1722 by a Dutch explorer. Easter Island has captured the world’s imagination for centuries, due to its mysterious cultural practices and abundance of strange monolithic statues. The famous “Easter Island heads” or […]
Cultural Tidbit: Easter Traditions
No matter where in South America you find yourself, you’re sure to find something interesting to experience at Easter time. If you’re in Buenos Aires during Semana Santa, you can participate in the local tradition of exchanging chocolate Easter eggs with friends, family, and colleagues. You’ll also want to try the special Easter cake, Rosca […]
Cultural Tidbit: Semana Santa
While to some people Easter is a secular holiday about bunnies, dyed eggs, and candy, in the predominantly Catholic countries of South America, Easter is celebrated with an entire week of religious observances, including special church services, festivals, and processions. The week of Easter is called Semana Santa, and commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. […]
Cultural Tidbit: Peruvian Progress
Everyone who has been to Peru will testify that it is a beautiful country. However, in the past Peru has also been seen as an unstable country with political and economic problems. Here are just a few recent news items that show how Peru is improving economically and coming into its own on the world […]
Cultural Tidbit: Yerba Mate
Yerba Mate, the national drink of Argentina, has a rich history dating back to PreColumbian times. According to Guaraní legend, the first yerba plant was given to an old man by the Goddesses of the Moon and the Cloud, as a reward for protecting them from a jaguar. Even since then, yerba mate has been […]
Cultural Tidbit: Patagonia’s Glaciers
The rugged, windswept, and surreally beautiful region of Patagonia is one of the last pristine landscapes on earth. As such, it is a tremendous place for a trek or rafting adventure. One of the most stunning sights in Patagonia is the glaciers. There are three major glaciers in Argentina’s Parque Nacional los Glaciares, and three […]
Cultural Tidbit: Patagonia's Glaciers
The rugged, windswept, and surreally beautiful region of Patagonia is one of the last pristine landscapes on earth. As such, it is a tremendous place for a trek or rafting adventure. One of the most stunning sights in Patagonia is the glaciers. There are three major glaciers in Argentina’s Parque Nacional los Glaciares, and three […]
Cultural Tidbit: Torres del Paine
Torres del Paine National Park is one of Chile’s most popular hiking destinations. The main attraction is the “Torres”, or rock towers that thrust up out of the Patagonian steppe. Other popular sites in the park include the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, the Salto Grande Waterfall, and numerous clear blue alpine lakes. Whether you choose […]
Cultural Tidbit: War of the Pacific
There are many fascinating epochs in the history of South America, but not all of them are widely understood. The rise and fall of various indigenous empires, the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors, and the development of colonial society are well known. The colonies’ struggle to become independent from Spain and to define themselves as […]
Cultural Tidbit: The Chilean Miracle
If you attend a Spanish immersion course in Santiago, Chile, you may indeed feel as though your experience was rather miraculous! However, if you hear the term “The Chilean Miracle” it refers to something different altogether. This economic term refers to the free market reorientation in Chile’s economy. Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman coined […]
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