My trip to Chile started in Atlanta Georgia, at the airport to be exact. It
felt exciting to hear that my ticket would take me to Buenos Aires. I had
never been to South America prior to this time. The first leg took me to
Miami Florida for a change in planes. Unfortunately for me I did not have
a direct flight to Santiago Chile. But instead I would be landing in Buenos
Aires Argentina with another connecting flight to Santiago.
The flight from Miami was approximately eleven hours in length and
took off at around midnight. By the time we had reached cruising altitude
they began bring out a dinner consisting of "mystery meat". Still am not
sure what it was. Looking out the plane window I could see the bright
lights of Havana below me. After eating it was time to try to get some
rest. I forgot to mention earlier but the flight was not fully booked and
upon the closing of the cabin door I was able to switch my seat to two
unoccupied seats by the window. This was a very strategic move
considering the length and time of the flight. After dinner it was time to
try to get some sleep. Having two seats meant that I had two pillows and
two blankets and also a bulkhead to prop them up on. The next thing I
knew I was being woken up for breakfast just prior to landing. Great trip
so far.
Upon disembarking in Buenos Aires I had one hour till my next flight on
LAN the official airline of Chile for the last leg of my flight. Everyone was
heading to the lower level and Argentine customs, looking at my watch I
knew that I would never make my flight if I had to stand in those lines.
Standing in the hallway I saw a woman sitting at a desk down an
adjoining hallway. I went to her, showed her my tickets an explained my
problem. As I was talking to her two men is suits were looking over her
shoulder at my tickets and passport. After around two minutes I was
shown through a metal detector and into the main waiting room. I was
now in front of my loading gate with time to spare. The reason I
mentioned that I would be flying on LAN is that I had never flown with
them before. It was a very pleasant surprise. The flight lasted a little less
than two and one half hours. The flight left exactly on time and landed
exactly on time. The plane was new a very clean. Immediately after
takeoff the crew came around with a menu and I don't mean "mystery
meat". I, loving Italian food, chose the Lasagna, and a glass of red wine
to go with it. There was no extra charge for wine, beer or dinner and as
much as you wanted. Santiago is located in a valley of the Andes.
Coming in for a landing was a great thing to watch.
On landing in Santiago I headed for customs and waited in line.
Reaching the custom agent I was told that I needed a tax stamp and
was directed to the correct booth. The stamp which is stapled to a page
in your passport cost $100 US and is important to keep. The amount
charged is different depending on which country you are from. I
understand the we charge the same fee for Chilean nationals coming
here. But with this tax stamp you do not pay any sales tax etc. While
you are in the country. Also, leave this stamp in your passport because
having one you never have to buy another if you visit again. After
getting the tax stamp I was able to go through customs.
The airport is a distance from the city of five million people. The hotel I
was staying at provided transportation from the airport to the hotel. I
stayed at the Sheraton - San Cristobal Towers. The Towers are part of
the Sheraton Luxury Collection. The regular Sheraton was adjacent but
separate. The hotel is located on the banks of a river that flows grey
with melt from the surrounding mountains. Looking out my window I
could easily see a snow covered volcano. The San Cristobal Towers are
another story in themselves, all good. The hotel is built on the side of
San Cristobal mountain and overlooking the river and the downtown
financial district.
Santiago, a city of five million completely surprised and impressed me.
Unlike other cities in Central America it was immaculate. Walking the
streets it would be hard pressed to find a scrap of paper on the street.
The subway system was a shiny as a new quarter. Street parking was all
underground as were some of the major highways. Seven days a weeks
the street buses run on a very frequent schedule. Walking the streets
there was no fear of any crime, a very nice change from other places I
have been. Unlike Mexico where most people, especially in tourist areas
have a working knowledge of English and accept and even prefer the
US dollar that is not true here. The people are friendly but very few
speak English, so brush up on a few key phrases before you go. Such
as "where is" and "how much". Another good idea is to exchange the
dollars you think you might need to spend into Chilean Pesos at one of
the money exchange booths at the airport. I highly
recommend taking the gondola trip up to the top of San Cristobal
mountain. The view of the city and the surrounds Andes is great. Also,
go during our winter, it is their summer.
After a few days it was time to leave, I would have loved to stay longer
and hope to return one day.
The next part of my trip took me to Valparaiso, located on the Pacific
coast. Valparaiso is a working city with a
naval base. Just to the north is Vina del Mar which is a resort town. I did
not make it there but heard many good things. As for the trip to
Valparaiso, it was around 100 miles long. A taxi would have cost $110
US. So I opted to take a bus. Taking a taxi from the hotel to the
downtown bus terminal I managed with my poor Spanish to let the agent
know that I wanted to go to Valparaiso. The bus terminal is large a very
busy, but efficient. My cost for the trip now went down to a little over $ 5
US .. Big difference. The buses were far newer than our own Greyhound
buses. Luggage was stored under the bus, the bus itself was like one of
tour buses, with large windows and air conditioning. During the bus trip
after leaving the Andeas you enter Chile's flat wine country. For many
miles as far as you can see there is nothing but grape vines to be seen.
A little note for wine lovers, a 1.5 liter container of Conch Y Toro, your
choice of grape, costs 85 cents US.
Yummy!
After arriving in Valparaiso it was time to take a taxi to the cruise
terminal to catch my ship. I was sailing on the Infinity, belonging to the
Celebrity cruise line. This will be the end of my trip for now. The cruise is
a different story.
felt exciting to hear that my ticket would take me to Buenos Aires. I had
never been to South America prior to this time. The first leg took me to
Miami Florida for a change in planes. Unfortunately for me I did not have
a direct flight to Santiago Chile. But instead I would be landing in Buenos
Aires Argentina with another connecting flight to Santiago.
The flight from Miami was approximately eleven hours in length and
took off at around midnight. By the time we had reached cruising altitude
they began bring out a dinner consisting of "mystery meat". Still am not
sure what it was. Looking out the plane window I could see the bright
lights of Havana below me. After eating it was time to try to get some
rest. I forgot to mention earlier but the flight was not fully booked and
upon the closing of the cabin door I was able to switch my seat to two
unoccupied seats by the window. This was a very strategic move
considering the length and time of the flight. After dinner it was time to
try to get some sleep. Having two seats meant that I had two pillows and
two blankets and also a bulkhead to prop them up on. The next thing I
knew I was being woken up for breakfast just prior to landing. Great trip
so far.
Upon disembarking in Buenos Aires I had one hour till my next flight on
LAN the official airline of Chile for the last leg of my flight. Everyone was
heading to the lower level and Argentine customs, looking at my watch I
knew that I would never make my flight if I had to stand in those lines.
Standing in the hallway I saw a woman sitting at a desk down an
adjoining hallway. I went to her, showed her my tickets an explained my
problem. As I was talking to her two men is suits were looking over her
shoulder at my tickets and passport. After around two minutes I was
shown through a metal detector and into the main waiting room. I was
now in front of my loading gate with time to spare. The reason I
mentioned that I would be flying on LAN is that I had never flown with
them before. It was a very pleasant surprise. The flight lasted a little less
than two and one half hours. The flight left exactly on time and landed
exactly on time. The plane was new a very clean. Immediately after
takeoff the crew came around with a menu and I don't mean "mystery
meat". I, loving Italian food, chose the Lasagna, and a glass of red wine
to go with it. There was no extra charge for wine, beer or dinner and as
much as you wanted. Santiago is located in a valley of the Andes.
Coming in for a landing was a great thing to watch.
On landing in Santiago I headed for customs and waited in line.
Reaching the custom agent I was told that I needed a tax stamp and
was directed to the correct booth. The stamp which is stapled to a page
in your passport cost $100 US and is important to keep. The amount
charged is different depending on which country you are from. I
understand the we charge the same fee for Chilean nationals coming
here. But with this tax stamp you do not pay any sales tax etc. While
you are in the country. Also, leave this stamp in your passport because
having one you never have to buy another if you visit again. After
getting the tax stamp I was able to go through customs.
The airport is a distance from the city of five million people. The hotel I
was staying at provided transportation from the airport to the hotel. I
stayed at the Sheraton - San Cristobal Towers. The Towers are part of
the Sheraton Luxury Collection. The regular Sheraton was adjacent but
separate. The hotel is located on the banks of a river that flows grey
with melt from the surrounding mountains. Looking out my window I
could easily see a snow covered volcano. The San Cristobal Towers are
another story in themselves, all good. The hotel is built on the side of
San Cristobal mountain and overlooking the river and the downtown
financial district.
Santiago, a city of five million completely surprised and impressed me.
Unlike other cities in Central America it was immaculate. Walking the
streets it would be hard pressed to find a scrap of paper on the street.
The subway system was a shiny as a new quarter. Street parking was all
underground as were some of the major highways. Seven days a weeks
the street buses run on a very frequent schedule. Walking the streets
there was no fear of any crime, a very nice change from other places I
have been. Unlike Mexico where most people, especially in tourist areas
have a working knowledge of English and accept and even prefer the
US dollar that is not true here. The people are friendly but very few
speak English, so brush up on a few key phrases before you go. Such
as "where is" and "how much". Another good idea is to exchange the
dollars you think you might need to spend into Chilean Pesos at one of
the money exchange booths at the airport. I highly
recommend taking the gondola trip up to the top of San Cristobal
mountain. The view of the city and the surrounds Andes is great. Also,
go during our winter, it is their summer.
After a few days it was time to leave, I would have loved to stay longer
and hope to return one day.
The next part of my trip took me to Valparaiso, located on the Pacific
coast. Valparaiso is a working city with a
naval base. Just to the north is Vina del Mar which is a resort town. I did
not make it there but heard many good things. As for the trip to
Valparaiso, it was around 100 miles long. A taxi would have cost $110
US. So I opted to take a bus. Taking a taxi from the hotel to the
downtown bus terminal I managed with my poor Spanish to let the agent
know that I wanted to go to Valparaiso. The bus terminal is large a very
busy, but efficient. My cost for the trip now went down to a little over $ 5
US .. Big difference. The buses were far newer than our own Greyhound
buses. Luggage was stored under the bus, the bus itself was like one of
tour buses, with large windows and air conditioning. During the bus trip
after leaving the Andeas you enter Chile's flat wine country. For many
miles as far as you can see there is nothing but grape vines to be seen.
A little note for wine lovers, a 1.5 liter container of Conch Y Toro, your
choice of grape, costs 85 cents US.
Yummy!
After arriving in Valparaiso it was time to take a taxi to the cruise
terminal to catch my ship. I was sailing on the Infinity, belonging to the
Celebrity cruise line. This will be the end of my trip for now. The cruise is
a different story.
| TRAVELING TO CHILE BY PHIL MCKENNA |
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| Also See: South American Cruise Around Cape Horn By Phil McKenna |
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