A Museum, a Post Office, and a Restaurant

We had kind of slow and chill day, but we've been pretty busy the last few days, so we're happy to have one that is a little less hectic, especially knowing what is coming.

We tried to go to one market slash restaurant, but we could not find it. Some things from the guide book we are finding to be closed. That's okay. We moved on to the museum.

The Museum of Memory and Human Rights

The 1973 coup marks an important moment in Chile's history. In fact, I'm surprised this was never mentioned in any of my history classes, ever. I didn't even know. I mean, yes, there has been mention of Kissinger and the suggestions that he wasn't the good guy, but wow, he really wasn't the good guy. The link below is a really good resource for learning about Nixon's and Kissinger's involvement with the Pinochet coup and the kidnappings and torture that came after.

http://www2.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB110/

The only thing I can imagine is that the Red Scare was so much a part of the minds and psyches of the U.S. that it sort of made all of the bad stuff "okay."

Anyway, the museum was free and awesome. Accounts from people who were kidnapped and tortured, a recording of Allende's last speech, a video of Pinochet and his comrades addressing the nation, and more. Tens of thousands of people disappeared. There were over 1300 torture sites around Chile. The whole thing is just so unbelievable.

After the museum, we rested at the hostel for a bit before taking all our souvenirs to the post office. Again, everyone is so nice!

We got a box and packed in our things - a present waiting for us when we get home. We had to list on the ticket everything that we had in the box, and Tanya used the word "trinkets." At first, the lady just had a hard time with English. So she got a person who knows more English, but she also got stuck on "trinkets." We kept trying to explain it, but it took not a third, but a fourth person to give them a Spanish word that equals "trinkets." Pretty funny. :)

We made our way to Bar Nacional for dinner where we had crab pie and pisco sours and lomo de la pobre - steak and eggs on it with fries. A treasured spot, for sure.

We didn't take many pictures today, but here are a few more from around the city. Chao!