|
|
|
Santiago July 2, 2007 6 hours before my flight home
So this is it folks, the last posting from the road. It´s just amazing to me that it´s actually over. I feel that traveling has become a part of my life, like a new friend you like but who just won´t go away. It´s pretty obvious if you´ve been tagging along lately that I miss hearth n home big time and am ready to call it a half year, but there´s certainly a little twinge of Ís it really over? Honestly, no more new places to experience? Seriously, I have to get another job?¨ It´s a weird combo going on in my head right now, especially with that half bottle of Chilean cabernet I drank with dinner last night. With that said I think I´ll once again save the hard core ruminating for a final post-trip round up and just talk about my last two destinations - Santiago and Valparaiso.
Bobbo excluded, name the movie - ¨Have you been to Santiago?
¨Twice, just last year.
Äah, then you´ve seen the Stadio Olympico¨´
Something About Mary, of course. And to set the record straight, there is no Stadio Olympico but the real local Estadio Nacional looks okay from a distance. Nice town however. Surprisingly, (probably because I did zero research before arriving here) Chile is one of the most modern countries I´ve seen. On par with Oz and Western Europe in its cleanliness, infrastructure and modern amenities available (other than the packs of wild roaming dogs). Guess that´s what corrupt dictators and such will do for you on occasion, right after disappearing out of planes over the ocean the entire political opposition first though. Anyway, it´s a cool modern town with, again surprisingly, rather bland food. Same with Peru. Guess I expected Mexican spices in all of South America but got roasted chicken and fries everywhere instead. Never assume folks.
After the week of skiing I took a bus ride to Valpàraiso (not the NCAA tourney team) to see the Pacific in a highly recommended town. The locale itself didn´t exactly live up to the billing but my compadres, Don and Michelle from Kalamazoo (my favorite town name ever), made it fun. We saw the St Pete n Paul boat blessing festival and they got us in to the Chilean Naval Reserve Club where we had a great meal with retired admirals and such. I had my best steak of the trip, but with fries and a fried egg. Definitely not carne asada but darn good just the same. Also tried my first real Honey beer. YUM! Unfortunately, I think I have do 2 weeks a year scraping barnacles now in return.
So the final flight leaves at 8pm tonight but beforehand my new pals and I hit Santiago with a hill hike and a tram ride up the Cristobal Mountain. Very nice views, especially the air show we were lucky enough to see up there. I finally got back to a little sightseeing, which is just the way this trip should end. I´m ready now for a reverse bon voyage with no regrets. To have completed this trip safe and sound, to have even had the opportunity to do so, I´m just so lucky I can´t even describe it. Maybe the words will come once I´m finally home. Now, I´m just happy to be here.
Adios -
Bill
previous travel blog entry
Comments or Questions for the Author
Bill Benson says:
Thanks and same here but are we talking a 'welcome home party', or a 'when can you leave again party'?
DP says:
Looks like a welcome home party is in order.