Finally here in South Ameica

Well, Chile to be correct.
The flight over went well. LAN Chile was surprisingly a good airline. While the flight (11 and half hours) began to drag out the entertainment selection was very good. The flight, which arrived 10 minutes early, took a very southern route. The on board flight plotter showed we flew close to Antartica before turning north to Santiago.

Pablo picked us up from the airport and gave us a brief tour of the city before taking us to his apartment, for a brief (3 hour sleep) rest. In the late afternoon we took the subway downtown for a typical Chilean meal. We ate at the Catina El Hoyo (apparently has an international reputation). The meals were rural in basis being pork and beef with potatoes. Very typical. It was a very pleasant experience (somewhat marred by smokers- in Chile they allow smoking in sections of the resturant). After that we walked around the central part of downtown Santiago. Visited the Moneda (where Allende Goosens) was deposed in 1973. Visited the Plaza de Armas (vrey busy) anda display about Pacific culture (Easter Island and other pacific island nations - NZ included). To do this sightseeing we had to use the subway, very glad to have Pablo and his girlfriend - Camelia acting as guides. The subway is very modern and effeicient, all so very packed as it was peak hour travel.
The weather was very sunny and warm, the evening very mild, like a NZ summer night. Most enjoyable.
Getting accoustomed to the rapdid spanish and currency and prices will be a somewhat drawn out affair I am affraid to say.
The other noticeable feature of Santiago is just how modern it is, also how americanised it is, all the fast food outlets you associate with both NZ and US are everywhere. I did see a few shantytowns on the river bank while driving in from the airport.

Now it is time for sleep. Tomorrow we are driving south to visit Pablo's mother and his home town.
All in all it was a great day 1 in Chile and South America (and of course Hawkes Bay won their game against Tasman- who were in Wellington airport as we were flying out).
Ka kite ano