South America - part 16

Thursday 29th January

 

It was lovely to be able to lie-in. Once I was dressed I went to Deck 3 at the stern to the bird-watchers groups to ask Chris Wilson about the bird in Puerto Chacobuco. He identified it as a Caracara. Then went to find my friend and have some breakfast. Other than that is was a very lazy day. I went to the  Zaandam Regatta but there was only one entry! Then to a presentation of the ship's video of our voyage. I succumbed to the Antarctic section as it summed up our experience so well. Then it was time for some packing before sitting out at the stern in hot sunshine. We came joint first in team trivia and then at dinner I finally got my birthday cake and birthday song from the waiters.

 

Friday 30 January

The alarm woke us at 7am so we got up, dressed and packed hand luggage. Next came breakfast. After that we both took some photos of Valpariso, although it was a misty morning.

 

Disembarkation was roughly on time and we were called about 9.15. On leaving the ship (down a very steep gangway) we had to first board a shuttle bus to take us quite a long way to the cruise terminal. There we had to queue while our hand luggage was sniffer dog checked and scanned. Then we were free to collect our cases and leave the terminal. Outside a man was holding up a board with my name. He took our cases and led us to a large minivan with two Australian couples already inside. It was an hour and a half drive out through Valpariso (with what looked like favelas, perched high on the clifftops) and across two valleys to Santiago.

 

We were the first to be dropped off at the Kennedy Hotel. A bellboy took our luggage while we checked in, the others were booked at the Sheraton. A glass lift took us to the eleventh floor. Our room 1106, was lovely with two double beds, plenty of storage and a marble bathroom with two basins, bidet and bath. After sorting ourselves out we went downstairs to ask the concierge for a map and bought HoHo bus tickets from him. We only that afternoon and the following day in Santiago so wanted to make the most of our time. It was quite a long walk to the HoHo bus pick up, up the road and over a high footbridge spanning two dual carriageways. Then up some steps through a smart shopping mal to the car park and bus stop. The bus ride took around two hours straight but we got off for a while in a big square by the cathedral and had a look round. It was Saturday and very busy.

 

Once back in the shopping mall we found a lovely seafood restaurant for a meal (I plumped for the Mahi Mahi) with Chilean wine. Then a stroll back to the hotel and bed.