So I arrived at the Philadelphia airport learning of the delays on all flights to Dallas (where my lay over was to take place). Sweet. My flight which was supposed to leave at 4:10 pm actually started boarding at 5:30, taking off eventually at 6:45. Now, this posed a problem for me, considering my connection flight in Dallas leaves at 9:10 pm and it takes 3 + hours to get to Texas. So, even if I made my flight by some miracle I was most certainly not going to have my luggage arrive with me in Santiago. So I figured I'd be stranded in Chile without luggage. OR Iwould be stranded in Dallas for a day by myself. Both situations not being optimal.
My flight to Dallas landed at 8:45 pm....leaving me 25 minutes to get to the other side of the terminal...But then again, miracles do happen. They announced on my plane that the passenger going to Santiago should see the man in the green vest on the way out. I was swept off the plane by some man in a green vest who drove me thru the tarmac to the terminal and assured me that they saved my seat on the over booked plane to Santiago and he promised to get my luggage on the plane. I made it to board the plane just as they were calling my group number!! Hooray!!
Then we waited....waited...waited some more for our plane to Santiago to leave. We left an hour late. (Which gave me more hope that my luggage made it on the plane). Then i had the most cramped and frio 9 hours on a flight I've ever experienced. And also, I'm not one to complain about airplane food, but American Airlines was quite a disappointment. Especially with their beef stew (yes, I was brave enough to order it in the first place).
What a way to start the trip....is this a sign?
Arrival in the airport...
paid my reciprocity fee to enter the country- check.
luggage arrived- check (!!).
Fit all 25 people + 50 suitcases into a shuttle van- check (although we looked like a clown car). Saw the suburbs of Santiago, mountains in the background, stray dogs, eccentric architecture- check.
Arrival in our sweet hotel suite...
Nicest place you can imagine. Four of us in the apartment with two full bathrooms, balcony, washer, full kitchen, comfy beds, closets, dressers, maid service, breakfast in bed, free wireless, fabulous staff, etc. Makes us Northeastern kids look like spoiled brats. (not that we don't deserve it obviously!)
Didn't get to tour the city that much. just the usual cash grab from the ATM. That is, once we figured out that taking 200,000 out of the ATM is in pesos, not dollars. BTW, US$1 = 545 pesos. makes converting money impossible without a pen and paper. (As if we didn't stick out as tourists enough).
My first real meal in Chile was a traditional Chilean feast...the "Palm Beach Burger" from the local Sport Bar. incluyido papas fritas y una cervesa. ha ha. Alright, so not very Chilean, but it was muy delicioso none the less.
Hasta luego!!
p.s. we're going on a bike ride or race on Sunday. not sure of the details. pray for no bruises or broken bones.
My flight to Dallas landed at 8:45 pm....leaving me 25 minutes to get to the other side of the terminal...But then again, miracles do happen. They announced on my plane that the passenger going to Santiago should see the man in the green vest on the way out. I was swept off the plane by some man in a green vest who drove me thru the tarmac to the terminal and assured me that they saved my seat on the over booked plane to Santiago and he promised to get my luggage on the plane. I made it to board the plane just as they were calling my group number!! Hooray!!
Then we waited....waited...waited some more for our plane to Santiago to leave. We left an hour late. (Which gave me more hope that my luggage made it on the plane). Then i had the most cramped and frio 9 hours on a flight I've ever experienced. And also, I'm not one to complain about airplane food, but American Airlines was quite a disappointment. Especially with their beef stew (yes, I was brave enough to order it in the first place).
What a way to start the trip....is this a sign?
Arrival in the airport...
paid my reciprocity fee to enter the country- check.
luggage arrived- check (!!).
Fit all 25 people + 50 suitcases into a shuttle van- check (although we looked like a clown car). Saw the suburbs of Santiago, mountains in the background, stray dogs, eccentric architecture- check.
Arrival in our sweet hotel suite...
Nicest place you can imagine. Four of us in the apartment with two full bathrooms, balcony, washer, full kitchen, comfy beds, closets, dressers, maid service, breakfast in bed, free wireless, fabulous staff, etc. Makes us Northeastern kids look like spoiled brats. (not that we don't deserve it obviously!)
Didn't get to tour the city that much. just the usual cash grab from the ATM. That is, once we figured out that taking 200,000 out of the ATM is in pesos, not dollars. BTW, US$1 = 545 pesos. makes converting money impossible without a pen and paper. (As if we didn't stick out as tourists enough).
My first real meal in Chile was a traditional Chilean feast...the "Palm Beach Burger" from the local Sport Bar. incluyido papas fritas y una cervesa. ha ha. Alright, so not very Chilean, but it was muy delicioso none the less.
Hasta luego!!
p.s. we're going on a bike ride or race on Sunday. not sure of the details. pray for no bruises or broken bones.
p.p.s. you're jealous: http://http//www.santamagdalena.cl/HotelSantiagoChile.htm
p.p.p.s. hope you like my alliteration theme to this blog!
hehe glad everything sounds like it's going well! Such an exciting story my world traveler :D
ReplyDeleteI'd like to compliment you on the spanglish. It gives the blog a realistic touch of a tourista.
ReplyDeleteApartment sounds great. I've definitely been there on the missing connecting flights out of the country.
OMG I am PRAYING that it's a bike race, and not a bike ride. Should this miracle occur, I would like a video of you and Chavez biking up a mountain.
ReplyDeleteThanks.