We left Toronto Pearson airport just after midnight which was after 2 a.m. in Santiago. Dinner was served about 90 minutes after take-off the entree was grilled chicken with wild and white rice or grilled beef with rice pilaf plus a bun, cucumber, pepper and onion in a light vinigrette and a fudge brownie. We had a restless night, Larry may have got 2 hours and me just 20 minutes of dozing. The plane landed at 12:17 p.m. Santiago time, about a 10 hours flight. We stood in line to pay the reciprocity fee for 15 minutes, go through Immigration for 40 minutes, where they stamped the passports, then walked over to the baggage carrousels to collect the bags already removed and waiting for us, then a 10 minute line to go through Customs.
The group met away from the arrivals hall and it was 20 minutes before all 42 were there and we could board the buses for the 25 minute ride into Santiago, where we went through a 2 km tunnel under the old town, which we have to wait until Saturday to see. It took about 10 minutes to check-in. Our room is on the 12th floor with a good view of the mountains. After waiting for our bags to be delivered we walked to a near by money exchange to buy some Chilean pesos (475 per one U.S. Dollar) We were able to direct several couples from our group to the money exchange kiosk.
We went to scout the area for dinner about 5 and wandered for an hour and found Torres Isidora,
the oldest Santiago restaurant. We both had tender salmon and some delicious baked fries. We had a short 10 minute walk back to the hotel. During the day we climbed up 2 sets of 6 floors of stairs and down 4 sets of 14 floors of stairs and 2 sets of 5 floors of stairs and 1 set of 17 floors of stairs. We are tired and are going to bed at 9.
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| View from Hotel |
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| Approaching Santiago Airport |
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| View from Hotel |
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| View from Hotel |
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| Area near our hotel |
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| Area near our hotel |
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