26 hours

I traveled for 26 hours.
Leaving my London flat at 4pm on Saturday and arrived at my hotel in Santiago, Chile 26 hours later.

It is a strange concept that within 26 hours, I was able to fly to the other side of the world.  And for what..? Only 3 days with a client.  I fly back on Friday evening.  I actually was to fly back to London on Thursday but the flight options were limited.

To top off the long round trip and the short stay, I forgot my phone charger.  My computer and my phone are my lifelines to getting work completed and staying in contact with family and work.  If I cannot be contacted one way or the other, then it is very hard to complete my job.  Luckily I have internet here at the hotel for a small charge for 24 hours.

My luggage also did not make it.  Well one of the two pieces of luggage made it - but it was the empty one with just some of my toiletries.  It is Sunday and a Presidential election day here in Santiago - so there are no stores open.  I am working on contacting (without a phone) my client so I can re-schedule our meeting for the afternoon.  That allows me to go out and buy clothes tomorrow morning.

The taxi service that was to pick me up at the airport and take me to the hotel, was not there.  Luckily I wrote down the hotel address.

All in all - I am very happy to have landed in Santiago safely.  The view of the Andes Mountains when you land is just stunning.  I didnt realize the Andes Mountains are just miles away from the city.  I never though they were that close.

Outside the hustle and bustle of traveling - the afternoon sun was a lovely welcome to the country.  I realize how much I love and depend on general day light.  Leaving England will be sad, but to be able to have daylight, instead of a constant hanging grey-darkness, is something I am looking forward to.

Not many things so far have struck me as different or out of place here in Chile - well just yet.
It is interesting how CNN Chile is actually covering different sectors of election offices.  In each of these offices, there is someone opening a 1/2 piece of paper and reading off the selected one of the two presidential candidates.  One vote at a time.  And on camera.

On the way from the airport to the hotel, the taxi drove on an overpass which was covered in heavy smoke.  Some locals of a small shacked housing area were enjoying watching very large trees burn and catch onto another .. fast.  It looks like something from a movie.  I initially thought there was a car on fire at the bottom of the overpass and that was the cause of all the smoke.

Either way - I'm jet lagged but glad I have internet, a shower, and my deodorant