Leaving Chile - some touristy destinations

On our way over the Andes to Argentina, we spent a couple of nights in Pucon (15th, 16th September) which is located near to the majestic (and ever active) Villarrica volcano. More (better quality) photos from Delia´s camera to follow - this is just a sighter using my iphone pics... Tooroo

Our day of travel from Pucon to Bariloche (9 hours on buses) started at 6:15am!

Map of Araucania (9th region of Chile)

Hopefully you can find :

towns - Temuco, Labranza, Neuva Imperial

our fav spots - Faizi & Dr Muhajir schools, radio Baha'i/institute

our holiday spots - Pucon, hot-springs (Los Pozones)

snow capped volcanos - Llaima, Villarrica

Side trip to Valdivia

On one of the weekends, we were invited down to Valdivia to join in activities of the local Baha'i community. Valdivia is situated near the coast about 2 hours by bus south of Temuco and is reputed to be one of the wettest towns in Chile.  True to reputation, it rained for most of our 3 day stay, much to our delight as we love the rain... We stayed with Eduardo and Lucy Rioseco in a beautiful spot next to the river, and enjoyed great company, food, and lots of music (as Eduardo is a first class guitarist, singer, composer, etc).  In Bahaí-speak, the local cluster of communities is just starting its Intensive Program of Growth so we joined in where we could, with our dodgy spanish and less dodgy music.

With Don Manuel and Senora, who have been Baha'is since the 1950s and have 8 children and many grandchildren (including this friend of Hero´s here) most who are also Baha'is.

Walking to a visit the parents of kids taking part in Baha'i children´s classes.

With a family who had were very keen to participate in the local community.

Walking with Lucy (in the rain, hurray) to her afternoon children´s class.

More colourful and individualised houses (as opposed to the more common 'one design fits all' neighbourhoods).

Finally some sunshine while wandering by the river.

Waiting for the bus back to Temuco.

A few random photos of Temuco

Temuco is a town of about 300,000 people and is the capital of the Araucania region.

With Felipe, Mili, Pipe, Rahmat and David

Attending a tree-planting afternoon with Felipe Jara, who works in community development along with his wife Mili.  As it is almost the Chile national day celebrations (18th Sept), a group from the local neighbourhood or barrio put on a short show of Queca dancing to mark the occasion.

Somewhere in Temuco...

Random offerings from street vendors :

Any guesses what this shop sells?

(its a supermarket chain...)

Base camp = Labranza Baha'i Institute

We stayed about half of our four weeks in the Temuco region at the Labranza Baha'i Institute, a building built in the early 90s near to the Radio Baha'í.  Its a fantastic resource with a big central meeting area, offices and dorms (of which we occupied a room in the women´s section).  There were 3 other volunteers staying at the institute while we were there, doing various jobs. 

Including Jacqueline "Kuki" from Talca, who had recently joined the Bahá'i community.  She has many skills including doing theatre shows with children.  Hero is demonstrating the use of props.

The institute property used to be in farmland (el campo), but in recent years has become surrounded by low cost housing as Labranza, a dormatory town 20 kms from Temuco, expands.

Returning to the Institute from the bus stop on a fine September day.

Dan found a heart shaped potato at the local farmer's market.

Participating in a 19 Day Feast in a rural hamlet.

It wasn´t all fun and games; here Hero shows off some bruises from bumping her lip while jumping on a bed.

Last day (15th Sept) with friends at the institute.

More at Faizi school

Our last day with the Faizi school coincided (without us being aware before hand!) with their Chile day march!

We had set off in the morning from our base at the Labranza Baha'i institute with Hero doing the very effective job of flagging the bus down...
And then hopped of the bus in Neuva Imperial, rang one of the Faizi school teachers, Jorge, who explained that everyone was in a different town participating in the national day celebrations!  So we caught a bus to the little town, which is located next to the Cautin river and walked up to the field where all the fun and games was taking place.

At the national day celebration, some schools put on special performances, like these dancers of the national dance "queca".

Delia with Laura, a Baha'í volunteer from Holland, who had just arrived at the Faizi school to give 3 months service.

Hurray for the Faizi school!

And other schools too (this one with kids wearing traditional Mapuche garb)...

Hero found various friends :

Including of course, Jorgito!