Our First Steps in South America

SANTIAGO, CHILE.

We both got some sleep last night but, with the new time change it might be 6am, it still feels like 4am as we wake. The reconstituted microwaved egg muffin tastes awful.

Pleasantly surprised how straightforward and quick it is to pass through passport control. The bag quickly arrives and though we are pestered by taxi drivers, we find the bus to the city easily enough. Santiago is far more run down than I expected with makeshift tents erected around road signs and even more rubbish road side than we see in the UK.

RJ asks an airport worker who is travelling on the bus for help getting to the metro and it's a good job that she does. She gets off at the same stop as us, walks with us even pulling one of our bags and shows us where to get on the train. (She gives us a spare card to use!) A metro worker advises RJ not to show her bundle of notes in public.

The number of people down in the subway was a surprise. Waves os travellers swallowed us up! Seven stops later, we are back in the fresh air, a helpful metro worker showing us the correct exit to use. As we emerge, I show the address of the hotel to an orange juice seller on my phone. Immediately he tells me that I should never show anyone my phone, they could steal it from me. He points out that we're not far for it.

Initial impressions are not good, the street is full of graffiti and there are gates in front of the hotel.

We're too early but we're allowed to leave our luggage in the office. The manager warns us of the danger of the street-thieves. As we walk, we discover that the street sellers will sell anything. Packets of paper hankies to rolls of sellotape, pairs of scissors through to clothes and shoes. All the formal shops have security guards.

Santander Bank has a coffee shop in the branch which offers discounts for their card holders. We walk up and down the streets killing time before we are allowed into our room. We find Tourist Information in a lovely square and obtain a street map.

Back at the hotel, we check-in and are really surprised by the room. It has two bedrooms, with seven beds in total, and two bathrooms. Will we be expected to share?

We walk back to the Central Market for dinner at a fish restaurant that RJ found earlier. The owner is Italian, really nice, and is the only one who opens after 5pm. A fish soup is provided free, RJ has local fish and mash, PG has a seafood broth, packed with all types of marisco, the waiter calls it the Queen of Stews. A bottle of wine, two cans of beer, a tip on the bill and total is only $36.

On the way home, I'm suddenly conscious of protecting RJ's bum bag. I notice one guy eyeing her stomach, the bag is under her blouse. He starts to follow her so I move between the two of them and put my arm around her waist and protect the bag. He moves on quickly. RJ thinks I'm getting amorous, well accountants are turned on by money. Was it heightened awareness or "just my imagination running away with me (thanks, The Temptations!).

Home without further incident by 7:30pm, ready for an early night to catch up on lost sleep.