Tiempo Libre

Friday 13^th October

Day Forty-Four

Woke up and discovered that my Chile guide book was still at Monte Grande which meant a trek back down the hill if I wanted to arrive before the bus which would then take me on to Vicuna. My muscles definitely weren’t too happy at that thought and neither was I but it had to be done since the school closed at 1pm today and I might not get back in time to fetch it later. So at 7.45am I set off down the black tarmac road to Monte Grande, in a short skirt, top and classy trainers rounded off with my black fleece tied round my waist.

This morning the weather was definitely colder and the sun had not yet appeared and I was able to walk at a reasonable pace without soaking my clothes in sweat. My fan club as always, were on the road waiting to wave at me as they passed in their motorised vehicles, although none stopped for me thinking that I wanted to walk today and so I arrived half an hour later at the school having walked the whole way again.

Explaining to the pupil’s that I wasn’t working today I went on a hunting mission around the school for my guide book, hoping to get out of there as quickly as possible. 15 minutes later and I’d located it in the director’s office and exited the school five minutes before the bus arrived on the way to Vicuna. Result!

9.15am and I was in Vicuna ready to get on the internet, reserve my hotel, speak to my folks, buy some toiletries and then get out of there in time to get to Cielo Claro for 11.30am.

9.30am and I was still ready to get on the internet, the only problem being that none of the cafes were open yet. I was left to sit in the park attempting to phone home, and like ET wasn’t getting anywhere fast and so went off exploring the shops.

I came across one shop that sold an arrangement of things, including the hats I keep thinking of buying. Trying a brown one on I found it fit, the price didn’t however as at 16,500 pesos was still 3,500 pesos more expensive than the cheapest ones I’d seen so I left to think about it and hang round the Internet café until it opened and kept mum’s number on speed dial.

10.00am and it still hadn’t opened and I’d got fed up of walking back and forth to the main square so went in the opposite direction until I finally found one that was open. It was also at this point that I managed to get through to Mum and discuss our options for the Galapagos Islands. On her advice I also sent a message to reserve a room at the more expensive hotel, the other option now only offering shared rooms and bathrooms since I’d taken so long to decide. Now all I needed was confirmation of my booking which would mean another internet trip later on that day presumably at the more expensive Pisco.

Next stop was the Pharmacy to get some toiletries and some sun screen for my week in what I hoped would be sun. Again my options were somewhat limited, the shampoo and toothbrush issues having been solved easily buying sun screen seemed more of a chore as I could buy factor 40, 50, 70 or 4, 5 or fake tan and sit indoors all day. Taking pot luck I opted for factor 5 and hoped if it was much sunnier I could buy factor 12 or 15 over there, I mean surely there must be factor 12, or 15 or 20? What were the options fry yourself or get inverted tan stripes where you missed a bit with the coverall factor 50. I wonder if you get streak marks with that if you don’t spread it evenly over your body – the fake tan look gone wrong kind of thing?

12.00pm and I’d definitely missed classes that day at Cielo Claro and so raided my bank account to pay Carmen Gloria and have some readies before I headed off back to the bus station. It was at this point I decided that I really did want that hat and went back to the shop. Friday the 13^th did not live up to its name here, or maybe it did, as when I returned the hat I was going to buy had gone so fate had intervened and said I really shouldn’t buy one. I was still in spending mode though and had to satisfy myself with buying a purse to keep some money in, and then got to feel Good all over again as I realised I had 16,500 pesos more to put in it than if I’d brought the hat!. Result!

Having just watched my bus leave for Pisco Elqui I headed back to the bus station and enquired about buses to Santiago and the airport for next Tuesday. Although slightly cheaper Pullman buses would drop me off at 5.45 in the morning at one bus terminal and I would have to find my way to another bus terminal to get the airport transit bus. Having already experienced the delights of trying to work out exactly where one was and where one was meant to be, of not knowing which bloody bus terminal they were talking about, or how to get there (and spending 2000 pesos for a taxi to take me 3-5 blocks!) I opted to pay 1100pesos more to go by Tur-Bus and get dropped off at the right terminal to catch the transfer (also Tur-Bus run) to the airport. As I finally handed over my cash after some deliberation and double checking that they were sure the transfer bus left from the same bus terminal (they weren’t fully convincing me) I watched the next bus leave for Pisco Elqui without me. Now I had another half hour wait till the next one, no more chores to do and no hat to go and buy to fill in the time.

Sitting at the station during what had turned out to be a cold day (thank goodness I’d brought my North Face fleece, although the short skirt hadn’t been much of a good idea) my mood was brightened somewhat by a Tur-Bus driver trying to chat me up.

“Are you going to Santiago” he asked

“No, not till next week I’m afraid.”

“Shame, you should come to Santiago” he gave me a wide smile and winked as he went off to get his coffee and food. Later as I got on the bus to Pisco he waved and insisted on saying Goodbye to me which was quite endearing really and I got on the bus just in time to nab the last seat available. It was turning out to be a fairly lucky day all-in-all.

On reaching Paihuano my luck changed however as I’d forgotten that all schools finish at 1.30 on Fridays and I was greeted with the sight of my pupils from Cielo Claro getting on and standing right on top of me so they could interrogate me the rest of the way home.

“Do you have a boyfriend Miss?”

“Is there anyone you fancy in Pisco, Miss?”

“Have you had a boyfriend, Miss?” (For Goodness sake, please don’t insult me!)

“Why don’t you fancy him, Miss? Why howold are you, Miss?”

“Who do you like, Miss?

Turning the tables round finally I got to find out who they liked and which teacher’s were fanciable – this mainly included the History Teacher (male) at Cielo Claro (who I found out later already has a girlfriend so that’ s lucky as I don’t have to think of reasons why I don’t fancy him either)

The conversation did get me thinking who I’d met who was even vaguely fanciable (In real life as opposed to my dreams) I guess the guy at the supermarket/ internet café is quite cute but too young, Jorge the Phys Ed teacher might be considered quite good looking but I haven’t seen him for a week and can’t remember what he looks like, Alvero who comes round with us in the municipal truck to teach phonetics to some of the kids but again looks too young, probably about 24years old. Then Horatio Caine aka The Strawberry Blonde Psychic – whoops no, back in fantasy land again

Finally we got back to Pisco and I could escape the interrogation, jumping from the bus (or realistically slowly lowering myself down the steps with each and every leg and backside muscle complaining) I made a run for home (again fairly stiff-leggedly since my muscles were still slowly becoming unstuck from the hour long bus ride).

It was not a nice welcome back to Pisco since the sun, which had never really come out that day, had been fully replaced and superseded by gusty winds, low grey clouds and cold air. Pleased to be home and now wishing for a hot bath the soak in, I slowly rushed to get changed into some warmer clothes before making my way to Claudia’s for my 4.30pm phone call from home. It wasn’t until I left the house though that I found out exactly how cold it was now outside and that it would’ve been a good idea to have brought a coat, preferably a water resistant one since I was now being struck by little droplets of rain – this wasn’t meant to happen in Pisco!

The walk was a cold one and the wind was strong, along the way I looked up and saw clouds hanging as if suspended by hidden strings from the sky to enable them to hover half way down the mountains. I increased my speed to get to Claudia’s quickly and to get out of the cold.

That afternoon I got through to my parents and Mum was still trying to locate the pages she’d seen earlier to book the Galapagos, I still have my fingers crossed even now that we’ll get there. Hopefully it won’t be raining there as well if we do go.

Heading back I stopped off at the internet to check if the hotel had got my reservation, it hadn’t and now I was beginning to worry so I sent two more emails in Spanish to try and get a reply before I resorted to phoning and using the telephone thief that owned the Centro de Llamadas down the road (500 pesos per minute compared to 140!!!). I forgot however to check my flight to Easter Island and although I can check-in online was still concerned that internet purchases can go awry according to Lonelyplanet – bloody better not!.

The afternoon and evening did not improve and by 8pm I was thinking of curling up in bed with a hot water bottle. Lukas, who wife works at Alcohuaz, doesn’t like the idea of heating as he thinks it separates us from the reality of the outside world and nature. My question is AND?

That evening I did go to bed early but minus the hot water bottle and not without scoffing more bread and marmalade – comfort food you realise for the cold weather. Tomorrow I’ll cut back on the 8 slices I seem to be eating per day.