Santiago and Flight to Easter Island, Chile

March 11-13, 2016, Worrall Travel R Day (WTRD) 63-65

On Friday, March 11, our AirBnB Host Algae, picked us up at 7:30 am for a ride to the airport.  We had plenty of time, so we were not to worried when we got into heavy traffic despite the shortcuts, Algae was taking, but then we came to almost a standstill, and our 20 minute ride was taking an hour or more.  We turned on the radio and learned the airport road was closed due to some sort of protest.

Seems like in Argentina and BraZil, there is always some sort of protest. We were expecting one on March 13, but not today.  Our driver was getting visibly nervous as we were, but if no one was getting to the airport, the flights would have to be delayed.  Just as Algae was going to find an alternative route to get us to a taxi stand close to the airport (thinking taxies might get through the blockade), an announcement on the radio indicated that the blockade had been lifted.

It was a little tight, but we made our flight to Santiago, Chili.  Bernardito, our new AirBnB host picked us up after and easy pass through immigration and customs.  We were expecting to pay a reciprocity fee at immigration, and were delighted to find out that just seven days earlier the USA and Chile came to an agreement rescinding the reciprocity fee that would have been about $130.00 each.  Good timing for us!

Bernardito, Bernie, lives in a duplex in the suburban area of Santiago, across from the mounted police academy....a very safe neighborhood.  She has her own drapery and home textile business that she operates out of her home.  Our bedroom, had beautiful handmade draperies, bed covers, shower covers, and enhanced white brocade Egyptian cotton sheets.

It has been a bit of challenge for us communicating because of our limited Spanish and Bernie's limited English, but we are laughing a lot and using the translator.  We watched a daily 4 hour soap opera with her for about 1 hour.  It was a good way too try and learn a little soap opera Spanish with her translator.

Saturday, March 12, 2016, WTRD 64

With some assistance and guidance from Bernardito, Russ and I took the subway into downtown Santiago, and spent the day seeing some of the historic sights,

downtown area,

government plaza,

central plaza with entertainment and children playing in the fountains and park

and street performers,

Santa Ana Cathedral,

pedestrian market streets,

and the fish and agricultural market.

We ate dinner at the central market.  Russ had salmon in a cream sauce with something fishy in the sauce (not a pleasant surprise for him) and I had scampi swimming in garlic butter.  It was a good, but not the best meal we've ever eaten....maybe a little too much butter and fishy taste for us.

After our late meal, we returned to Bernie's and spent the rest of the day  catching up on photo editing, computer backup and repacking our luggage.  We will be returning here in 4 day visit to Easter Island.  We are taking one small checked bag and two small backpacks, leaving the rest at Bernie's.

Sunday, March 13, 2016 WTRD 65

As we had pre-arranged with Bernie the night before, we got ourselves and ready for breakfast by 6:30.  She is taking us to the airport at 7:10.  We are supposed to present ourselves 3 hours before the flight.  This seems a little early, but after our last flight and the protest, we wanted to give ourselves a wide margin.  We woke up at 5:45 and went downstairs at 6:30.  It was dark.  Where was Bernie?  We heard her bedroom door open and she came out with her phone.  It said 5:30.  Oh no!  Time changed last night.  We are an hour too early.  Well that widens the margin even more.

Bernie comes downstairs in about 10 minutes.  By that time, both Russ and I have had a chance to turn on our computers and phone.  Weird, our clocks are still behind.  I google what time is it in Santiago?  6:45  Turns out that Chile's last daylight savings time was in 2015.  This year there is no falling back, except Bernie's cell phone isn't programmed for the recent political change.  Haha!  The margin narrows again. Nevertheless, we make it to the airport an hour and a half before our flight.  

I am glad we have checked in on line.  We only need to go to a kiosk get our boarding pass, then drop our bags.  The bag drop line is 20 times shorter than the hoards of people standing in the check-in line.  Security is long too, but we get through and still have 20 minutes before the plane boards.  There is a Dunkin Donuts at our gate.  We can't resist, and buy 1/2 dozen to take to our Easter Island Hosts.  We're betting dollars to donuts there isn't a Dunkin there.

So now we are 40,000 feet in the air, on our way to Easter Island.

All is Well with the Worrall Travel R's Flying High!