Days 23 - 25 - Bringing it Home

A quick hop from Los Angeles to Talca to another Apart Hotel (Basically a condo rental). Boring city, a mall 500m away where we could buy food, and that's about it.

The next morning we headed to Los Quenes via Curico, where the square has 60 Canary Palms planted. Nifty place to sit and eat for a little bit. Then we continued on to Los Quenes which was gravel for about 20 km, then the last bit was rough gravel, but offered spectacular views of the mountains.

After some astronomy opportunities, we slept and arose early to make it to the Montes Winery in time for the early tour, so we could miss the rush hour in Santiago. There is a second road that leads to Los Quenes, which fortunately is used by the mining industry, so it is in much better shape than the road we took in. We arrived well in time despite some backups on the secondary roads. The tour was good, we got to see the cellar where the premium wines are stored in barrels (and they play music to them 24 hours a day. Seriously).

Heading back to Santiago, we had 180 km to ride, and gorgeous weather to do so. We took the back highway into the city in hopes of avoiding traffic and getting a better view. Frankly, from the little bit of big city driving we did, I'm glad we avoided at least some of it. The Chileans, while excellent drivers, arn't quite sure what to do with a motorcycle that is almost as wide as a car. That and the KLRs heat up to the point where I was concerned my pants were going to light on fire from the heat billowing from the engine.

Thankfully, the GPS made no errors and shepherded us in.

For The Game Of Thrones Watchers

Central Square In Curico

River Near Los Quenes

Sunrise In Los Quenes

Montes Winery

As the music gently weeps over the barrels

Bikes returned

Day 3 - Lost in Translation

A better way to put it might be that it wasn't so much lost as never had a hope. We purchased a prepaid phone today. It is activated, the reception guy (Who blessedly spoke a little bit of English, neither of our spanish is up to detailed discussion of cell phones and their activation) showed us that it could phone his phone. So it works. The phone is supposed to come with 5,000 CHP of time (At 60CHP/min), and then when you recharge it with at least 2000 CHP, it gives you another 5000 bonus. We arn't quite sure how long the credit lasts, but it is probably a minimum of 15 days, so the theory is that we will recharge it when we reenter Chile. (Which is likely to be 10 days after tomorrow), so it *should* work.

The initial plan was to get a SIM card for my S3, but the first place we went to did not have the microSIM cards, so we had to find a larger store. When we got called up at the main store (you talk to a reception person who sorts your problem and gives you a number), through sign language and google Translate I realized that he was asking for confirmation that my S3 was unlocked. Which I know it is... for the North American market. So instead we bought a phone for 8990 CHP that reminds me of the old Nokia Candy-Bar style. It does have a camera and supposedly the ability to play music, after you add your own SD card to it.

A basic phone, but we know it works on the local networks, so we have it if we need it, but through the grace of God, we won't.

The Sign Is an Acronym For Something... but I Don't Know What

Local Tree

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