The Eternal Day
As exciting as crossing the date line might seem, it makes for one very long day - a 30 hour one, actually. Although in fairness I did doze on and off during the flight, so I can now add Great Gatsby, Man of Steel, Star Trek, and The East to the list of films I've almost watched!
Took it easy this afternoon as I was exhausted after the long, full, and hot flight (why are planes always hot now? They used to be icy cold... although I was in the tail again, which was where I was on the last hot overnight flight). Then to add to the discomfort, I endured what has to be the longest customs processing I've ever encountered. We stood in the ziggy-zaggy queue for an hour and a half. My shoulders have had a workout with the bag on my back during that time. Of course there was no benefit in not having checked luggage with such a long wait - I think people were more worried that someone would take off with their bags before they could get to the baggage hall. By comparison, quarantine took 5 minutes after that. Both had 2 counters open! And I will get to see Santiago airport 3 more times in the next week - but not to be processed as an incoming tourist again, thank goodness.
To avoid falling asleep this afternoon I went into the centre of town for a walk on a brilliantly sunny afternoon. My hotel is only 3 blocks from the Metro, conveniently past some little shops that sell water, a farmacia (chemist), and panaderia (bakery). I will have to try some empanadas - sounds like a good lunch to me! I am finding that because I look Spanish, people expect me to speak it! And as my embarrassment quota is non-existent, I'm only too ready to have a go and I can describe things I don't know the name of, so I am getting on quite well buying tickets and ordering food, and asking directions - the weird looks notwithstanding!
So - the Plaza de Armas, which was full of people eating ice creams, buskers, families, and artists selling their wares - has some lovely old buildings surrounding it, and the odd nicely blended tower of glass (check out the photo gallery here). I visited the National History Museum, which was passable, but rather small, but in a pretty colonial courtyard building, and with the onset of gallery legs, the cathedral provided an artistic haven. I then wandered amongst the many shoe shops and had a break and some free wifi with my coffee - the caffeine hit being much needed as I was flagging at this point (but could still remember my Spanish name for Starbucks!). At this point I realised that of course I was hungry - I had missed lunch because of the airport lingering - so on the advice of a local cafe owner I had the cassuela (stew) as the most typical local chilean fare. This one had chicken, potato, pumpkin, and beans on a bed of rice with the yummiest chicken stock. Massive serve (I left half behind, and naturally managed to spill some down me as it was so full!). After the airline food it was good to have some veggies.
Well - not a very scintillating afternoon, dear readers. I promise that my posts are usually more reflective and descriptive than diarised like this! They will get better when I am not so tired.
Oh - three things I saw today:
A man on a bicycle with a car bumper on his shoulder.
A museum mannequin in colonial dress standing on tip toe (female mannequins must usually wear heels!)
Red balloons that had escaped to the cathedral ceiling (look closely and you'll see them in the photo!)
And to leave, let me say the picture accompanying this post is how I feel about now...
Sweet dreams everyone! A. xxx
