Feria de pulgas

Today I got to go up to Alto Hospicio to check out the flea market they have up there. It's huge and has everything from running shoes to meat to toilet paper to Vikings jerseys. I got some sweet new running shoes for really cheap and saw lots of tempting things from Minnesota! I also saw lots of brand name things for about a quarter of the price you find in the US...I might have to buy a bunch before I go back and sell them on eBay or Craigslist...gotta think like a Chilean...

BundT pan from MN?! Bread pan?? I feel right at home.

Good Will stickers! How the heck does this stuff get down here!?

Go Culpepper!

EDEN PRAIRIE! NO LO PUEDO CREER!

Precaria

I have a friend who is a photographer in Iquique. He did this huge project where he lived in different little towns around the desert with the people that were born and raised there. While living there he took pictures of the townspeople and their homes. Back in Iquique, he's had lots of success with his project. First he had his pictures up in different art galleries in Iquique and Santiago, presented his work in Valparaiso, created a street art display of his pictures, and finally just finished publishing a photo book with the images. It's great to watch the progress of his success with his project. I went to check out the street display and at the book release I got a signed book to take with me!

Peruvian Cuisine

During my adventures in Peru this summer I got the chance to try so many delicious Peruvian dishes. They say that Peru has one of the best cuisines in the world...I agree. The food was much better than in Chile...don't tell any Chileans I said that...

There were still some things that I wasn't able to try that I was hoping to, but that just means I'll have to go back. Bummer...:)

Fish strips...tasty but really? That's IT?!

Day of the Dead bread...yep that's a baby in a bread blanket.

Chicha! Fermented corn and strawberry juice. Sounds weird? Tastes kind of weird too...

Granadilla fruit

Typical - chicken fried to the max with french fries and white rice.

Yucca...like a potato, but not a potato. Something new...

Pisco sour! Peruvian style...but best with Chilean pisco I've heard...

Coca leaves are EVERYWHERE - tea, candy, chocolate, snacks, breakfast, lunch, dinner, etc.

Leche de tigre - the juice left over from the ceviche - lemon juice, fish juice, spicy pepper, cilantro, salt? Wasn't a huge fan...

Seafood tortilla

Seafood sampler - Peruvian ceviche, octopus fried rice, fried fish sticks.

Don't forget the rice.

Toasted yellow corn to feed those hard working boys in the field!

There's always tea and soup

Toasted flour, potatoes, peas, and cheese...for breakfast. That'll sure fill you up for a hard day's work in the fields!

Toasted salted corn kernels...think Corn nuts...but better.

Stuffed mashed potatoes

They made this with a camping stove! Impressive...

Cuy. (Guinea Pig.) Tried it once...more than enough.

Carnaval de Iquique

Last weekend Iquique celebrated its Carnaval with lots of activities 3 nights in a row. They had different communities present a nominee for queen, a crazy costume, a street dance parade, and a car float. I got to see most of the cool stuff as well as the concert they put on the last night. This is a time for people to celebrate the end of summer and they do that with spray cans of foam, silly string, and lots of other mischievous behaviour. Even though my hair ended up like a ratty bird's nest, we had fun dancing!