| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 02/04/01 |
| Author: | Page Number: 44 |
| Copyright: Other |
Farm stay
With two days’ climbing, white-water rafting and New Year’s Eve celebrations beginning to take its toll, we retreated to a Mapuche farm not far from Pucón.
The Lake District was the homeland of the indigenous Mapuche Indians until the late 19th century. And while the Mapuche are still few and far between, the remaining families are now asserting their independence, with many areas of the Lake District being preserved just for them.
Our Mapuche farm, which was called Kila Leufu, was a perfect antidote to the liveliness of nearby Pucon.
The three-generation Martinez family, who run the farm, treated us as long-lost relatives from the moment we arrived, bombarding us with delicious home-cooked food and lively conversation around the warmth of the kitchen stove. Add to this the pervading sweet smell of pampas grass and the setting could not have been more idyllic.
During our stay we were offered riding trips on the family’s docile horses and trips to neighbouring waterfalls and hot springs. But with our bellies full and the warmth of the afternoon sun, it was hard to move from the comfort of the porch steps.
Family affair: the Martinez family laid on a great spread