Day 1 and 2 - Airport Lounges and Retail Hours

The flight to Toronto was like all other Canadian domestic flights, though I did realize I have not been in Toronto since I lived there when I was 4. The jackpot was at the end of the proverbial rainbow. The Maple Leaf Lounge.

The private airport lounge. Spoken of with envy by most, I have seen others enter that mythical place beyond the smoked glass doors. Now I can report that I have been to the promise land, and it is just as good as you believe. We had a 5 hour layover in Toronto Pearson, and a pair of passes to the Air Canada lounge thanks to my father's platinum status with Delta Hotels. I had originally advocated using them on the way back, but closer checking (mostly getting the time zones right), this was the time to use them.

The process is similar to checking into a hotel. Normally the 6 hour package is $65 per person (About 400/year for a Canadian membership to the 16 lounges in Canada). You would not have to fly very much to make that money back. Everything inside is included, the drinks (the alcohol as well, and the selection is reasonable), the pretzels, little sandwiches, salad bar, cookies, and dinner (Rice, kebabs and Pasta Carbonera, all of which were surprisingly good). The key parts for business travellers are the full office (with computers and printers/photocopiers), free wifi, many places to sit, easily accessible power points, and showers.

I'm rambling on about this, but 5 hours in an airport could have been be decidedly unpleasant, and uncomfortable. I would have ended up paying for food and drink anyway, and there is never a good place to sit, or an easily accessible plug. From the reading on the website, the $500 North American-wide access membership (which allows you to bring in a guest) is not out of line to the value it provides.

Once it was time to head for boarding (An hour beforehand, it seems to take an extrodinarily long time to fill an 777-300ER) we mingled around trying to be among the last to board and wandered into the shops located in the terminal, which surprisingly were still open at 11 PM. Curious, we asked the staff what time they close. "After the last plane leaves, which can be very late if the flight is delayed. No matter what time we close, we open at 4 AM, two hours before the first departure. The latest I've ever been here was 3 AM, and next week there is a flight starting that leaves at 130 AM, so we will be open until then".

I have no love for retail, but it amazes me that it is finacially viable to keep the stores open for that many hours, she said that sales after 9 PM were uncommon but not rare. My understanding is that it is mostly Asian businessmen heading back home and stopping through the Burbury or Coach to pick up a gift for a client or a loved one at home. I think my surprise also comes from living in a city that does sleep, where as places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, and New York never truly shut down.

The flight itself was relatively uneventful, I managed to sleep for much of it, and by "sleep" I mean doze in a haze of partial understanding of what was around me while trying to find the most comfortable position to stretch out in. Not the worst sleep I have ever had, but certainly not good.

Santiago is an interesting city. First off, apparently Canada charges Chilean citizens a fee of 132 US to come into Canada, so they reciprocate the favour. Thanks. That said, the visa is good until your passport expires, so I'm covered for awhile. Customs was effortless, and after a few moments (where we began to be minorly nervous) our luggage came and an airport employee helped us find an official cab (a key point according to the guidebook and the signs beforehand) that we paid for right there. This brings me to the one issue I'm having. Conversions on money are tough. It is not like going to the US and adding the current 10%, or the 1.6 times for the Euro, or the 20 Honduran Lempires to the dollar. No, the Chilean Peso is currently ~460 to the CAD. The accurate way is to use a calculator, the quicker and accurate-ish way is to divide by 9, take off 2 zeros and then multipy by 2 (IE 18000 beomes 2000, then 20, finishing at $40, well technically $39.14), the method I'm using is to divide it by 5, pull the zeros and take a little off (18000 becomes 4500 ish, take off a bit and end up with low $40s). The most likely culprit is that I don't do enough math in my head, but trying to figure out if 7200 is a good value for a pizza is taxing.

There are three remarkable features that I've seen so far:
1. The architecture is a mix from ultra modern to colonial to crumbling 80's style, possibly all in the space of a block. The effect is unique, and quite cool.
2. Almost everyone is well dressed. This could be as we are in the heart of downtown, and in a world class city, but it is still impressive.
3. It is very cosmopolitan. We stand out, but not to the extent that I expected. Walking down the street I've heard at least a half dozen languages and cultures from around the world are well represented.

A street near the hotel

The Maple Leave Lounge in Toronto, notice the two pints of Guiness. They even have instructions at the taps to pour it correctly!

One of the Stores Open 'Till The Dawn

Lavendar Around A Lamp Pole