People

There is a strong European influence. You will find many descendents from England, and Spain. To the south there was a strong settlement of Germans. They also came from France, Italy, Yugoslavia, and Palestine. Most Chileans are a mix of different races. Although natives are still found in the different regions of Chile, Aymara and Atacamenos are native to the north, and Mapuches to the South.

Food

Whether it is shopping for groceries or looking to dine out, local food is quite accessible in Chile. It is very easy to find fresh, great tasting, and economical fruits and vegetables. There is fresh bread baked daily. There are also numerous restaurants and eateries that you can visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner, teatime, or even a midnight snack. Some typical dishes you will find are pastel de choclo or papa (corn or potato pastry), empanada (turnover with your choice of meat, cheese, seafood), charquican (vegetable stew), and sopaipilla (fried pumpkin bread). Because Chile is a long thin stretch of land bordering the Pacific Ocean, you can taste some of the best seafood dishes in regions all along the coast from North to South. Seafood is one of Chile's hidden treasures being very inexpensive and of rich flavor, texture and size.

Beverage

Very popular is the wide range of harvests for wine. Due to our geographical location we have been acknowledged and have won awards for having the best wines worldwide. Some popular name brands are Cousino Macul, Concha y Toro, Santa Carolina, Tarapaca. As for some typical cocktails you will find Pisco, (Grape brandy), produced in the North, where you can prepare pisco sour. Other options are fresh fruits soaking in wine, and Chicha. Popular beverages are mate con huesillo, (peach nectar with barley kernels).

Accommodations

You can find camping grounds to five star hotels, just about anywhere you may desire. This enables us as visitors to choose from their finest modern choices to the most humble campgrounds. In every Capital Regional City you can find selection of what they offer. You can select from Camping and Refuge, which generally have hot water, and bathrooms; Hostels are popular for youth travelers. Family Houses and Hospedajes are very inexpensive rooms with kitchen and laundry hot showers, and breakfast. Pensions and residentials are inexpensive permanent forms of accommodations.

Shopping

You will also find a wide range of shopping malls, mini malls, commercial streets, and fairs. Also very popular are the street vendors who sell a variety of different artwork , jewelry and many varieties of ethnic memorabilia.

National Dance

The national dance is called 'Cueca' (or Zamacueca). This is where the man pursues the woman who flees from him. Using a handkerchief as if it were a soft lasso, the man surrounds her with it without touching her, and brings her steadily and persistently to her side. The woman approaches him with elegance and flirtatiousness then as slightly lifts her skirt with her left hand and gracefully moving her handkerchief with the right, she flees from him again. This continues with the man's footwork becoming ever more complex, almost as though he is having a competition of skill against himself, until with the last turn the man ends with his arm around his partner and with one knee on the ground. The dance is a mimic of the Rooster trying to seduce his mate.

History of the Flag

The originally "Flag of the Old Country" consisted of three horizontal equal strips of blue, white, and yellow. The "Flag of Transition" was later adopted. It consisted of the same idea, but the yellow was replaced for red. It was very similar to Holland's flag so it was soon replaced for the flag used today.

The individual meanings are:

Red - the blood shed by the heroes on the battle fields
White - the snow of the Andes Mountains
Blue - the clean Chilean sky
Star - the power of the State which vigilantly protects the integrity of the country