As the discount airline commuter plane struggles to peal itself over the gravitational pull of the blistering hot Santiago (SCL) tarmac, we are soon aloft. Having a window seat on the left side of the plane, I can watch as the city-scape gets smothered under the smog or maybe it was haze. My guess is that it is the latter, since tall mountains tend to trap in inversion as the day smolders on. Of course, volcanoes also produce more CO2 far outpacing the damage that industrialized nations can produce, so maybe it is smog.
The flight from Santiago to Temco is barely an hour. One of those flight that the plane is either ascending or descending, but never flying level. I gaze out the window, and caldera after caldera welcomes me. We have arrived what is know to most as the "Ring of Fire". I am sure that Wikipedia has a better description, but basically it is the horseshoe shape following the western South American coastline over to the Hawaiian islands, and down to New Zealand-ish.
We can't but wait to go see calderas up close and personal, and we have access to an easy one tomorrow after we pick up the bikes. My hope is that it doesn't do what Volcanoes do and that is get really, really hot--fast. Sort of like a reenactment of the recent tragedy in New Zealand when a bunch of folks were burned beyond recognition during an minor eruption. I am all but certain that I will be crunchy when fried, but then again, I may also be a delicacy with a side of some ketchup.
We have only thus far seen the inside of the Santiago airport, however, we will stay there for a few days on the northbound trek home. However, compared to Temuco and Pucon, Santiago has all the ills of a big cityscape. Smog, few trees and a desolate high dessert feel. Pucon however, it appears to be the on equatorial mirror of Maryland. Maryland is approx on the 38th parallel, and we see a sign advising trucks not to go north on 38 parallel on our trek into Pucon. I surmise that we are somewhere around -38 latitude. Bruce laments aside for the road signs posted in a slightly unknown tongue, the vegetation is all but similar from the trees to the grasses. Even down to the yellow weeds that grow among the hay fields! The world is one big giant mirror! He also laments it was odd to see so many 'Texas' flags....except while of similar color and shapes, those might actually be those of Chile!
The flight from Santiago to Temco is barely an hour. One of those flight that the plane is either ascending or descending, but never flying level. I gaze out the window, and caldera after caldera welcomes me. We have arrived what is know to most as the "Ring of Fire". I am sure that Wikipedia has a better description, but basically it is the horseshoe shape following the western South American coastline over to the Hawaiian islands, and down to New Zealand-ish.
We can't but wait to go see calderas up close and personal, and we have access to an easy one tomorrow after we pick up the bikes. My hope is that it doesn't do what Volcanoes do and that is get really, really hot--fast. Sort of like a reenactment of the recent tragedy in New Zealand when a bunch of folks were burned beyond recognition during an minor eruption. I am all but certain that I will be crunchy when fried, but then again, I may also be a delicacy with a side of some ketchup.
We have only thus far seen the inside of the Santiago airport, however, we will stay there for a few days on the northbound trek home. However, compared to Temuco and Pucon, Santiago has all the ills of a big cityscape. Smog, few trees and a desolate high dessert feel. Pucon however, it appears to be the on equatorial mirror of Maryland. Maryland is approx on the 38th parallel, and we see a sign advising trucks not to go north on 38 parallel on our trek into Pucon. I surmise that we are somewhere around -38 latitude. Bruce laments aside for the road signs posted in a slightly unknown tongue, the vegetation is all but similar from the trees to the grasses. Even down to the yellow weeds that grow among the hay fields! The world is one big giant mirror! He also laments it was odd to see so many 'Texas' flags....except while of similar color and shapes, those might actually be those of Chile!
 Texas, A State in the Good 'OL USA |  Chile, A Country On or About -38th Parellel |
Despite nearly a full 24 hours in transit, the adventure has gone off with nary a hitch. I was able to score a $1K discount by booking the Washington to Santiago flights via Latam, which a code share airline with American Airlines. The only fly in the ointment was didn't get seat assignments until check-in. But since I normally get up around 03:30, I decided to check in before we got to the airport. Low and behold, we scored some excellent seats. It seems the only remaining seats were those that had the extra 6" of leg room! And it only got better as the day worn on. This was the final "leg" of our journey today! I actually feel as if we are getting a bit too greedy, if anybody could ever say that about airline legroom standards.
Once in Santiago, we had to bogey through customs then check back in with the regional carrier, Sky. Our tickets had the priority pass included, and boy was it nice have our own check-in line and also be the second people to load onto the plane. Correctly applied splurges ($7 USD in this case) often can turn a suck-ass trip into a very enjoyable adventure. Of course, the trick is to apply previous experiences to make the future better. Hindsight, we did have some long layovers. Aside from suffering through four (!) gate changes in Miami, we decided to eat our way through the layovers. It was nice to know that we didn't need to hurry at all, not for late plane arrivals not for anything.
I feel like I have been practicing my entire career for this trip. You know the one with the motto--Join US and, see the World! But the digital age has made travel so much easier. The American Airlines app provided up to minute baggage updates, and gate changes. The Google Translate app allows you to translate any menu through using the phones camera. Uber made is a snap to arrange final transport to the hotel, despite the language barrier.
Now exhausted, but also hungry again. We can't decide if we should solder on to normal bedtime, or go meander around town. We are staying for the next 2 nights at Hotel Rangi. Nice enough boutique hotel a few blocks from main street in Pucon. Tomorrow, we pick up the bikes.
