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| View of the Mercado Fluvial in Valdivia, Chile |
At first, I was surprised to realise that everybody seems to love Germans over here. With my limited knowledge I wondered where all this love came from and all I knew was that after WWII some of those alleged to be with the Nazi regime flew to this land to find a new refuge. What I didn't know is that the Germans came to Chile way before the war and left a positive trace.
The first Germans came to Chile between 1849 and 1851, abandoning a continent of failed liberal political experiments. In the same period, Chile just became an independent Republic in need of people to fill its vast and mostly empty lands. The favourable laws of the newly born Republic attracted many immigrants and the Germans were basically the first to profit of this situation. The first arrival of immigrants consisted mostly of merchants, countrymen and craftsmen who settled in Valdivia and its surroundings, as well as in the LLanquihue Lake area. These settlers came from Hesse, Silesia, Wurtemberg, Bohemia, Westfalia, Brandemburg and Saxony. They brought their traditions and knowledge, contributing to the cultural and economic development of the country. They managed to integrate in the new nation without losing their language, customs and beliefs. Differently than the Spanish, they didn't come to impose themselves and their religion in the new world.
Valdivia (in the picture) is the German heart of Chile and all the links between Chile and Germany became clearer in this place. Many streets in Valdivia are named after a German, eg. Carlos Anwandter, Rudolf Philippi, Amthauer, Oettinger...and the main road passing between Rio Valdivia and Rio Cau Cau is funnily named Avenida Alemania, Germany Avenue. Even the first brewery of the country was established by a German and a lot of local beers still carry a German name, like Kustmann.
Today there is no difficulty in recognising a German face (cara de alemán) around. Generally a tall person, white skin and blue eyes...in contrast with the chilenos who are short, dark and have the darkest jet-black eyes! Don't we all love Germans after all?? ;)
The first Germans came to Chile between 1849 and 1851, abandoning a continent of failed liberal political experiments. In the same period, Chile just became an independent Republic in need of people to fill its vast and mostly empty lands. The favourable laws of the newly born Republic attracted many immigrants and the Germans were basically the first to profit of this situation. The first arrival of immigrants consisted mostly of merchants, countrymen and craftsmen who settled in Valdivia and its surroundings, as well as in the LLanquihue Lake area. These settlers came from Hesse, Silesia, Wurtemberg, Bohemia, Westfalia, Brandemburg and Saxony. They brought their traditions and knowledge, contributing to the cultural and economic development of the country. They managed to integrate in the new nation without losing their language, customs and beliefs. Differently than the Spanish, they didn't come to impose themselves and their religion in the new world.
Valdivia (in the picture) is the German heart of Chile and all the links between Chile and Germany became clearer in this place. Many streets in Valdivia are named after a German, eg. Carlos Anwandter, Rudolf Philippi, Amthauer, Oettinger...and the main road passing between Rio Valdivia and Rio Cau Cau is funnily named Avenida Alemania, Germany Avenue. Even the first brewery of the country was established by a German and a lot of local beers still carry a German name, like Kustmann.
Today there is no difficulty in recognising a German face (cara de alemán) around. Generally a tall person, white skin and blue eyes...in contrast with the chilenos who are short, dark and have the darkest jet-black eyes! Don't we all love Germans after all?? ;)
So, most people in Valdivia think, Maurice is a son of Germans? Only the blue eyes are not correct.... The German language is not a problem for him!
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