We woke up and had some breakfas with MariLu. She told us she watched two Jack Nicholson movies on tv the night before, and we talked about that, our time in Pucon, and our trip ahead.
We packed up our haul and took the subway to a bus stop where a small bus dropped us at the airport. We are getting pretty good at public transport! We printed our boarding passes at a kiosk and went through security pretty fast. We had pleanty of time so we read for a while and had a cafe con leche at an airport cafe - only to see a Starbucks just when we finished! We´ve been craving American coffee.
The flight was about one hour. I read when we were in the clouds and finished my book called "No and Me" which I really enjoyed. We had some nice views of the Andes when we dipped out of the clouds. One of the stewards handed out a card and chocolate to all the women - a Mother´s Day card! Oops, maybe I shoudn´t have taken it.
Customs consisted of scanning our bags and taking our pictures. I was worried that we would be busted for having lentils and quinoa from Santiago in our bags, but we didn´t. After taking two transactions to get the money we wanted out of the ATM (wasting 5 bucks in the process) we were on our way. Hello Mendoza! We say our first olive trees and grapevines as we left the airport - looked like they were on airport property!
A short cab ride and we were at our hostel. A german woman who spoke perfect english helped us. She was really nice and helped us book our bike tour for the next morning. With the time change it was getting to be late afternoon. We walked around the block (all was closed, it was sunday) and then came back to make our lentils. We also put a load of clothes in the free washing machine and hung them on a terrace to dry. Everyone gets a free glass of wine a night, so we sipped ours while talking to Lee, a guy from NY traveling for 9 months. After the lentils and wine the hostel hosted a "pizza party" and for a small price you could have all the pizza you want. We sat by Lee and a couple from San Francisco and swapped travel tales over pizza. We got to bed around 11:30.
I´m currently waiting for Ryan to come down for breakfast - he is rolling out his leg musles in the room with the portable roller he brought along. Our guide picks us up at 10:30 for a bike tour of 3 winerys, an olive oil factory, and lunch.
disclaimer - I´m a bit rushed this morning, and this keyboard at the hostel has worn keys that you have to push hard to get to type. Sorry for the typos, I´m sure there are many!
Showing posts with label santiago. Show all posts
Showing posts with label santiago. Show all posts
Monday, May 13, 2013
Saturday, May 11, 2013
Pucon back to Santiago
We slept in and woke up to our last day in Pucon to the sound of rain and wind pounding the roof and windows. Once we got ready we settled the tab with the manager and made breakfast. We poached the eggs this time because they ended up soldered to the pan last time. They pretty much fell apart, yolk broken...but they were still edible and tasted fine.
while we were eating a girl came to the hostel door with her backpack, in the rain. We let her in, and we waited for the manager to come around to give her a room. The manager ended up scolding me for letting someone in the hostel who didn't have a key. We sat around a bit more and packed up all of our things.
After a while the rain let up and we ventured in to town for lunch (Ecole again) and alpaca shopping. Ryan's indecisiveness paired with me already owning an alpaca sweater means that we left empty handed. But the prices were pretty high compared to what we paid in Ecuador, and none of them really stood out.
Our favorite dog followed us again around town. He's so cute, I really wanted to pet him, but I know better.
We came back to the hostel after stopping at the lake to make dinner. It was cozy to sit for a while and have tea and blog with the little wood oven right by us. The girl from the morning came in with a bottle of wine she'd purchased in town. We had the same problem of no functioning corkscrew. She was able to find the manager who had an extra, and she ended up sharing it with us.
Dinner was lentils, quinoa, carrots, and zuchini with raisins. The rain had picked up again by the time we were eating. Shortly after dinner it was time to go to the bus station. A five minute walk away. We loaded up, put our rain jackets over our packs and covered our purse/day packs with plastic bags. We made it most of the way before the rain really came down, and managed to stay dry with our gear.
We hopped on the bus, grabbed our free socks, read a bit and went to bed. I really dont mind the overnight buses at all. We got in at about 7.
We took the subway back to our Santiago hostel once we grabbed our bags. We are in a different room, its a little bigger actually.
Once we settled in we headed out in search of breakfast. After finding most places closed, we happened upon a micro cafe. We were able to get some coffee, Ryan had scrambled eggs and toast, and I had a Neopolitan empanada 9ham, tomato, and cheese).
We decided to take the subway to the end of the track and go to Concha y Toro winery. Long story short - we took a long subway ride, got off in another part of the city, had no idea how to get to the winery, witnessed an episode of road rage between two locals, got back on the subway and came home. One plus was that we got to see a guy playing the pan flute and guitar on the subway car, he was pretty good, too!
We had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant by our hostel. El Arbol - we each enjoyed a carrot tostasa and mixed green salad before heading to the art museum for another free walking tour. The 3pm tour is different from the 10 am tour (we we took last week).
On our way we passed a large gathering of people waving rainbow flags around someone with a megaphone on stage. A gay rights rally from what I gathered.
We met Phillipe, our guide, along with a euro couple, and our tour began. We took note of a place he recommended for great ice cream. We walked through a few different neighborhoods and learned more about the history of Santiago. We saw some beautiful churches, learned more about Pinochet and the dictatorship, went under the presidential palace, and ended in the Plaza de Armas.
The highlight for me was the middle of the tour when we learned that it was not a rally that we noticed earlier, but a march. A gay rights march to the Plaza at least ten thousand strong. Rainbow flags, glitter, drag queens, electronica music, chanting. We found ourselves right next to the march, and at one point had to cross through it. I actually kicked an inflated condom back into play as we were walking. Look at us! caught in the middle of a gay rights march in Santiago, Chile!
When the tour was over we decided to go back to the ice cream shop, and then on back to the hostel where we are now. Ryan just found that the clothes in his backpack got wet some how - it couldnt have been last nights rain, we stayed pretty dry. I'm off to shower and turn in for the night...as they say in Chile, Chao!
The oven in the common room
Barney spotting!
The gay march
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Santiago to Pucon
Before I begin, let me note - South America is not shy about smoking, PDA, or Vienetta ice cream logs.
Yesterday we had breakfast at our hostel and headed our to Plaza de Armas to look for some alpaca handicrafts (scarves, hats, sweaters) for our upcoming journey into the cold salt flats. First we stopped at the bus station to purchase tickets to Pucon for that evening. It's a 10 hour overnight bus ride. I was dreading it considering I slept very poorly on our overnight flight.
With the help of a guy behind us who spoke English, we purchased two premium (meaning seats that fully reclined) tickets. The lady was telling us something about talking the subway, walking, then "the bus will come to you." Hmm...ok.
Shortly after arriving, Ryan's left leg was giving him so much trouble that we had to stop walking and let him rest a little. I accidentally left the Aleve in the hostel, so we went to a farmacia. I wrote "Naproxen o Naprosyn o Aleve" on a slip of paper and the pharmacist was able to give us a box. Ryan took it, we had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant, and he was feeling better. We found a little shop that had what we were looking for. Ryan got a scarf that he'd spotted several locals wearing, and I got a neat hat.
After we bought our goods, we headed back to a tiny store I spotted the day of our walking tour. It was an "Ortopedias" (or something close) store. A very small kiosk style store set into a corner of the subway station. It had orthotics, write supports, knee straps, you name it. we picked up a roll of off-brand KT tape and a thigh compression sleeve for Ryan's tight muscles.
We were thinking of going to a nearby vineyard to walk around, but decided it was best to limit walking for the afternoon. We stopped at a supermarket near the hostel and grabbed what we would find to be a rock hard avocado, some bread, yogurt, bananas, and oatmeal. This would be our dinner.
Since we had technically checked out, and Mari Lu was graciously letting us hang around until our 9:50pm bus, we spent the evening watching british CNN and reading, Ryan almost died of boredom.
Around 8:40 we headed out. With all of our gear on our backs, we trekked to the subway, which gave us flashbacks to Quito circa 2011 due to how crowded it was. The subway spit us out at Los Heroes estacion. We surfaced to a street in another part of the city, 9pm, in the middle of some sort of bicycle rally. Thousands of bike riders riding down the street, lots of young people milling around. We were instantly freaked out. Where the heck were we going? Mari Lu gave us vague and unsure directions when we asked her before leaving, they included a feeble attempt at google-mapping it for us.
Anyway, there we are. We round a corner and see a line of people waiting for what would only be a bus. I ask two staff-looking women in yellow coats. They pretty much tell us it is a 5 minute walk down a poorly lit street, with hardly any people visible when we look that way.
Ryan and I both agree not to venture down there alone with all of our belongings hanging off of our bodies in some fashion. We kind of circle the block, I'm looking for a police officer who will take pity and escort us, Ryan is calculating how much money we'd loose to cut our losses and get the day bus.
I notice a guy in is 40s dressed well and I felt like I could trust him for some reason. I asked, and he pointed us in the right direction, not as far down to the scary part of the street.
On the corner I see another honest-looking gentleman with a small suitcase. Yes! We learn that he is on "el mismo bus" (the same bus!) as us. We are very relieved to a.) be in the right place and b.) be in an area with a light overhead and a friendly local to help us.
Soon the bus arrives. I semi-reluctantly let them stow my large back under the bus. We climb to the upper level of the bus to our premium seats. Wow! They convert into an almost totally flat bed. Shortly the porter comes around and gives us water, some kind of onion-flavored crackers, and basically tucks us in with a blanket. Even closing the drapes all around us. I had to spell our last name for him, and spell Ryan's first name "Ere - i griega - ahh- ene".
Eye mask on, ear plugs in, melatonin and benadryl swallowed, and Ryan and I were out. I woke up at one point to go to the bathroom. I left my glasses, and went to the first level. I tried to open the door, but when it wouldnt, I just figured it was in use. I stood there in the dimly lit corridor with the street wizzing by before going back and checking if there is an upper level bathroom. Bingo!
It was at this time I learned you have to PUSH to open these doors. I had been pulling at the bottom one, and it was probably empty the whole time I stood there.
Anyway, once done I got up, returning the spring-loaded toilet seat to its original position of "up", and went back to bed. I just want to add that Ryan looks pretty funny with a bandana tied around his eyes. It looks like he's in for a far worse fate than a long bus ride.
We woke up for good in time to get our breakfast handed to us, a questionable cheese sandwich. We
opted instead for two hearty cookies we had purchased at a vegan cafe the afternoon before.
Soon it was time to get off the bus and get a cab to our hostel. Donde German actually has two locations. Leave it to Ryan and I to overpay a bus station taxi to drop us at the wrong location! We were actually farther away than we were when we were at the bus station!
We gathered our stuff and walked to the correct location, almost missing it thanks to directions lost-in-translation.
We were welcomed by a nice woman who speaks no English, but showed us to a clean room and a really cozy overall hostel.
Ok, thats it for now! Have to go help Ryan with dinner!
Yesterday we had breakfast at our hostel and headed our to Plaza de Armas to look for some alpaca handicrafts (scarves, hats, sweaters) for our upcoming journey into the cold salt flats. First we stopped at the bus station to purchase tickets to Pucon for that evening. It's a 10 hour overnight bus ride. I was dreading it considering I slept very poorly on our overnight flight.
With the help of a guy behind us who spoke English, we purchased two premium (meaning seats that fully reclined) tickets. The lady was telling us something about talking the subway, walking, then "the bus will come to you." Hmm...ok.
Shortly after arriving, Ryan's left leg was giving him so much trouble that we had to stop walking and let him rest a little. I accidentally left the Aleve in the hostel, so we went to a farmacia. I wrote "Naproxen o Naprosyn o Aleve" on a slip of paper and the pharmacist was able to give us a box. Ryan took it, we had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant, and he was feeling better. We found a little shop that had what we were looking for. Ryan got a scarf that he'd spotted several locals wearing, and I got a neat hat.
After we bought our goods, we headed back to a tiny store I spotted the day of our walking tour. It was an "Ortopedias" (or something close) store. A very small kiosk style store set into a corner of the subway station. It had orthotics, write supports, knee straps, you name it. we picked up a roll of off-brand KT tape and a thigh compression sleeve for Ryan's tight muscles.
We were thinking of going to a nearby vineyard to walk around, but decided it was best to limit walking for the afternoon. We stopped at a supermarket near the hostel and grabbed what we would find to be a rock hard avocado, some bread, yogurt, bananas, and oatmeal. This would be our dinner.
Since we had technically checked out, and Mari Lu was graciously letting us hang around until our 9:50pm bus, we spent the evening watching british CNN and reading, Ryan almost died of boredom.
Around 8:40 we headed out. With all of our gear on our backs, we trekked to the subway, which gave us flashbacks to Quito circa 2011 due to how crowded it was. The subway spit us out at Los Heroes estacion. We surfaced to a street in another part of the city, 9pm, in the middle of some sort of bicycle rally. Thousands of bike riders riding down the street, lots of young people milling around. We were instantly freaked out. Where the heck were we going? Mari Lu gave us vague and unsure directions when we asked her before leaving, they included a feeble attempt at google-mapping it for us.
Anyway, there we are. We round a corner and see a line of people waiting for what would only be a bus. I ask two staff-looking women in yellow coats. They pretty much tell us it is a 5 minute walk down a poorly lit street, with hardly any people visible when we look that way.
Ryan and I both agree not to venture down there alone with all of our belongings hanging off of our bodies in some fashion. We kind of circle the block, I'm looking for a police officer who will take pity and escort us, Ryan is calculating how much money we'd loose to cut our losses and get the day bus.
I notice a guy in is 40s dressed well and I felt like I could trust him for some reason. I asked, and he pointed us in the right direction, not as far down to the scary part of the street.
On the corner I see another honest-looking gentleman with a small suitcase. Yes! We learn that he is on "el mismo bus" (the same bus!) as us. We are very relieved to a.) be in the right place and b.) be in an area with a light overhead and a friendly local to help us.
Soon the bus arrives. I semi-reluctantly let them stow my large back under the bus. We climb to the upper level of the bus to our premium seats. Wow! They convert into an almost totally flat bed. Shortly the porter comes around and gives us water, some kind of onion-flavored crackers, and basically tucks us in with a blanket. Even closing the drapes all around us. I had to spell our last name for him, and spell Ryan's first name "Ere - i griega - ahh- ene".
Eye mask on, ear plugs in, melatonin and benadryl swallowed, and Ryan and I were out. I woke up at one point to go to the bathroom. I left my glasses, and went to the first level. I tried to open the door, but when it wouldnt, I just figured it was in use. I stood there in the dimly lit corridor with the street wizzing by before going back and checking if there is an upper level bathroom. Bingo!
It was at this time I learned you have to PUSH to open these doors. I had been pulling at the bottom one, and it was probably empty the whole time I stood there.
Anyway, once done I got up, returning the spring-loaded toilet seat to its original position of "up", and went back to bed. I just want to add that Ryan looks pretty funny with a bandana tied around his eyes. It looks like he's in for a far worse fate than a long bus ride.
Premium seats! About as first class as we get.
We woke up for good in time to get our breakfast handed to us, a questionable cheese sandwich. We
opted instead for two hearty cookies we had purchased at a vegan cafe the afternoon before.
Soon it was time to get off the bus and get a cab to our hostel. Donde German actually has two locations. Leave it to Ryan and I to overpay a bus station taxi to drop us at the wrong location! We were actually farther away than we were when we were at the bus station!
We gathered our stuff and walked to the correct location, almost missing it thanks to directions lost-in-translation.
We were welcomed by a nice woman who speaks no English, but showed us to a clean room and a really cozy overall hostel.
Ok, thats it for now! Have to go help Ryan with dinner!
Monday, May 6, 2013
Valparaiso
We woke up early this morning and got our own breakfast together in order to catch our bus to Valparaiso for the day. We made it to the bus station and successfully bought our tickets and hopped on for the 90 minute ride to the port town.
We had another "Tours for Tips" walking tour that met at 10am in the town square. By the time our bus got into the station and unloaded it was 10! Thanks to a really friendly cab driver we made it to the square by 10:05 and our tour was just ready to get started. The driver had CCR playing and I tried to sing him the lyrics in spanish. "Quiero saber, miria la lluvia?" haha!
Anyway, Sydney, a girl from Atlanta was our guide and we took us down to the water first to learn about how the city formed. The port itself was built on landfill that had pushed the shoreline farther and farther back.
We then walked over to the town court. She told us about a statue of lady justice and the meaning behind the posture and props the statue was holding. We took a picture and will remember the story to tell Ryan's Dad, we think he'll enjoy it.
The rest of the tour was spent exploring the city itself. We had fresh cookies a local man was selling, rode an incline to the top of one of the hills, and sampled a pisco sour at the end...All the while surrounded by the most colorful street art! And yes, 2 dogs followed us during the tour, one the first half until the incline, and the second from the incline to the end!
After the tour we had lunch in a small bar/restaurant. I had fried fish again and Ryan ended up with spaghetti and meat sauce. He was in a bad mood because his hamstrings were feeling really tight and somewhat painful but the loosed up by the end of the day.
After lunch we had lattes and dessert on a patio. The cafe had wi-fi so I took advantage and uploaded some pictures. We were fat and happy after our snack and spent the afternoon wandering around taking even more photos.
Our day in Valparaiso ended with a lancha (motor boat) ride into the port to see some of the giant ships up close. We even saw sea lions sitting on some kind of bouy. The guide spoke rapid spanish the whole time to a group of mostly native speakers, 2 other whities, and the token teenaged lovers.
We then grabbed a cab back to the bus station andcame back to the hostel for a minute before heading to dinner. Dinner was at Baton de Inca right near our hostel and was so good! Yucca and grilled fish with rice for me (more fish!) and tacu tacu with steak and fried banana for Ry. Superb!
We had another "Tours for Tips" walking tour that met at 10am in the town square. By the time our bus got into the station and unloaded it was 10! Thanks to a really friendly cab driver we made it to the square by 10:05 and our tour was just ready to get started. The driver had CCR playing and I tried to sing him the lyrics in spanish. "Quiero saber, miria la lluvia?" haha!
Anyway, Sydney, a girl from Atlanta was our guide and we took us down to the water first to learn about how the city formed. The port itself was built on landfill that had pushed the shoreline farther and farther back.
We then walked over to the town court. She told us about a statue of lady justice and the meaning behind the posture and props the statue was holding. We took a picture and will remember the story to tell Ryan's Dad, we think he'll enjoy it.
The rest of the tour was spent exploring the city itself. We had fresh cookies a local man was selling, rode an incline to the top of one of the hills, and sampled a pisco sour at the end...All the while surrounded by the most colorful street art! And yes, 2 dogs followed us during the tour, one the first half until the incline, and the second from the incline to the end!
After the tour we had lunch in a small bar/restaurant. I had fried fish again and Ryan ended up with spaghetti and meat sauce. He was in a bad mood because his hamstrings were feeling really tight and somewhat painful but the loosed up by the end of the day.
After lunch we had lattes and dessert on a patio. The cafe had wi-fi so I took advantage and uploaded some pictures. We were fat and happy after our snack and spent the afternoon wandering around taking even more photos.
Our day in Valparaiso ended with a lancha (motor boat) ride into the port to see some of the giant ships up close. We even saw sea lions sitting on some kind of bouy. The guide spoke rapid spanish the whole time to a group of mostly native speakers, 2 other whities, and the token teenaged lovers.
We then grabbed a cab back to the bus station andcame back to the hostel for a minute before heading to dinner. Dinner was at Baton de Inca right near our hostel and was so good! Yucca and grilled fish with rice for me (more fish!) and tacu tacu with steak and fried banana for Ry. Superb!
One of many painted staircases
Lady justice with sword and scale at hip, eyes open
Valparaiso
During the tour
Street art
Beethoven Staircase
First protestant church to have a cross in Latin America
Two cats - one real one painted!
Fun with graffiti
On the lancha ride
Can you spot the lovers?
In the port
Hey I think I see our PODS!
Finishing leftover dessert on bus back home
Sunday, May 5, 2013
Santiago Walking Tour
This morning we woke up around 8am (we went to bed at 8pm!) feeling 100% better than the day before. I'll tell ya, yesterday evening we were both looking and feeling worse for the wear. Its amazing what a good nights sleep will do for a person.
Marilu had breakfast for us. We had toasted buns smeared with avocado, plus sliced turkey, cheese and jam. Also corn flakes and milk. (yes, our plant-based diet has gone out the window) The coffee was instant.
Marlilu sat with us and had her coffee and cereal, while educating us on Chile, including the Pacific War and border disputes. It was really enjoyable with her eating with us. She told us about how Chileans pay very little in taxes, but there is barely any social programming, so healthcare is very expensive, and non-existent if you are poor.
After breakfast we hustled to the meeting point for our "free walking tour". It is a tour given daily at 10 and 3 and all you do is tip the person what you think it's worth at the end. Our guide Romi started us at the art museum and we walked down to a little part of town that a Justice of the City, way back when, collected all the drunk people and put them in jail, and used them as forced labor to build a bridge over the river. She told us tat Pablo Neruda used to hang out in this part of town.
After that we headed to the fish market, a combination of teeny restaurants and raw fish kiosks. We went on to the central market before heading out to the Santiago cemetery via subway.
Upon arrival to the cemetery she had us all sit on a couple benches while she told us a little about it. 3 stray dogs immediately walked up to me and sniffed my shoes and pants. Ryan was amused that they chose me out of the crowd to loiter near. Those 3 dogs would follow our group for over an hour throughout the cemetery! At one point we went into a restaurant for a drink, came out 20 minutes later and the dogs were at the door waiting for us!
The cemetery was really neat. Lots of different types of graves and vaults of both common people and past presidents. We also saw animetas - which is when a young innocent person dies a violent death and people believe they become a medium between god and the living. Like a common person's saint. They ask the saint for favors like health and wealth, and once the favor is granted, they make a thank you plaque and hang it on the grave.
Romi (our guide) brought us into a restaurant to try "tierramotos", a typical Chilean cocktail made with sweet white wine, grenadine, and pineapple ice cream. They drink was actually really strong, and i felt slightly tipsy pretty quick. This ended our tour.
Romi said she was headed back to the market, so we followed her there. We felt like the stray dogs!
She left us at the market entrance, and we tried to find the lunch spot we had walked by earlier. After some roaming and circling, we found it. We both had fried fish (delicious) and rice before leisurely walking back to the subway through pedestrians roads with most stores being closed for the day, but some ice cream shops open. The subway is pretty simple to use. There was a teenage couple on the car with us, in full lip-lock at any given moment.
Marilu had breakfast for us. We had toasted buns smeared with avocado, plus sliced turkey, cheese and jam. Also corn flakes and milk. (yes, our plant-based diet has gone out the window) The coffee was instant.
Marlilu sat with us and had her coffee and cereal, while educating us on Chile, including the Pacific War and border disputes. It was really enjoyable with her eating with us. She told us about how Chileans pay very little in taxes, but there is barely any social programming, so healthcare is very expensive, and non-existent if you are poor.
After breakfast we hustled to the meeting point for our "free walking tour". It is a tour given daily at 10 and 3 and all you do is tip the person what you think it's worth at the end. Our guide Romi started us at the art museum and we walked down to a little part of town that a Justice of the City, way back when, collected all the drunk people and put them in jail, and used them as forced labor to build a bridge over the river. She told us tat Pablo Neruda used to hang out in this part of town.
After that we headed to the fish market, a combination of teeny restaurants and raw fish kiosks. We went on to the central market before heading out to the Santiago cemetery via subway.
Upon arrival to the cemetery she had us all sit on a couple benches while she told us a little about it. 3 stray dogs immediately walked up to me and sniffed my shoes and pants. Ryan was amused that they chose me out of the crowd to loiter near. Those 3 dogs would follow our group for over an hour throughout the cemetery! At one point we went into a restaurant for a drink, came out 20 minutes later and the dogs were at the door waiting for us!
The cemetery was really neat. Lots of different types of graves and vaults of both common people and past presidents. We also saw animetas - which is when a young innocent person dies a violent death and people believe they become a medium between god and the living. Like a common person's saint. They ask the saint for favors like health and wealth, and once the favor is granted, they make a thank you plaque and hang it on the grave.
Romi (our guide) brought us into a restaurant to try "tierramotos", a typical Chilean cocktail made with sweet white wine, grenadine, and pineapple ice cream. They drink was actually really strong, and i felt slightly tipsy pretty quick. This ended our tour.
Romi said she was headed back to the market, so we followed her there. We felt like the stray dogs!
She left us at the market entrance, and we tried to find the lunch spot we had walked by earlier. After some roaming and circling, we found it. We both had fried fish (delicious) and rice before leisurely walking back to the subway through pedestrians roads with most stores being closed for the day, but some ice cream shops open. The subway is pretty simple to use. There was a teenage couple on the car with us, in full lip-lock at any given moment.
Graffiti from yesterdays walk
Mountains in the background!
Central Market
tres perros
The cemetery
one of the animetas
Our doggies followed us the whole time
Me talking with our guide
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Buenos Dias Santiago!
We have arrived here in Santiago, Chile! Unfortunately I didn't sleep well on the plane despite Benadryl and melatonin. The guy next to me offered "sublingual ambien", but my conscience told me not to take pills from strangers.
Ever feel like you are getting dumber with experience? We regret that we didn't pick window seats when given the choice, and that we screwed up immigration by having only one customs form (I thought it was one per family). Ryan had to get all the way back in line, hence me sitting here blogging.
Oh well. We are happy to be here and will soon be looking for a radio taxi to take us to our hostel (after changing some money). I'll update again soon!
Update... We are in the hostel lobby waiting for our room to be ready. Ryan is looking up restaurants, and I'm watching CNN Chile. Looking forward to a walking tour at 3pm : Santiago Highlights.
Update again: We grabbed lunch at a Peruvian restaurant and decided we were too wiped out for the walking tour. We'll get a tour tomorrow at 10:30.
Instead we got ice cream and roamed around Bellavista area and Parque Forestal. Pretty!
Ever feel like you are getting dumber with experience? We regret that we didn't pick window seats when given the choice, and that we screwed up immigration by having only one customs form (I thought it was one per family). Ryan had to get all the way back in line, hence me sitting here blogging.
Oh well. We are happy to be here and will soon be looking for a radio taxi to take us to our hostel (after changing some money). I'll update again soon!
Update... We are in the hostel lobby waiting for our room to be ready. Ryan is looking up restaurants, and I'm watching CNN Chile. Looking forward to a walking tour at 3pm : Santiago Highlights.
Update again: We grabbed lunch at a Peruvian restaurant and decided we were too wiped out for the walking tour. We'll get a tour tomorrow at 10:30.
Instead we got ice cream and roamed around Bellavista area and Parque Forestal. Pretty!
Ryan checking e-mail at our hostel
CNN CHILE
Flyer for our walking tour
Kids play in Parque Forestal
Getting sleepy but still smiling
Intersting floor in a small market
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