God love the underdog who survives to tell the tale of victory.
The Mapuche are the indigenous community of southern Chile made up of several different tribes. Amazingly, they were never conquered by the invading Spaniards who they successfully fought for 300 years.
The red in the Chilean flag represents their blood spilt in the many battles and they have proudly survived, maintaining their language, culture and crafts - brilliant wood carvers, wool weavers and silversmiths.
The Villarricca and Pucon area is their heartland and we were so pleased to have visited the local towns, their museum and listened to their legends.
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