Sleeping through the jet lag...

Well we are finally settled in our posh little hostel in Santiago, what Amber tells me is the most expensive city on our trip. I suppose it is best that we start out expensive and get cheaper! Our three night stay here cost both of us about $80 USD for both of us. It may not sound like that much in comparison to hotels in the states, even Holiday Inns, but for a traveler´s budget it comes out to be quite a lot.

Yesterday we flew out of Spokane at 9:10am to Seattle. As we flew, the most beautiful view of Mount Rainer was out our window. We practically flew over the top of it, as if on a sight-seeing tour. As the captain announced it´s height at 14,400-somethign feet, we both looked at eachother knowing we would be traveling through cities at similar elevations (like Lake Titicaca at 12,500+).

In Seattle, we had to get our bags and re-check in. Without a hiccup we were through security for the second time and very relieved to be officially on our adventure. (Our South American Adventure as Mijoe so kindly refers to it!) After another 3 1/2 hour flight to Dallas and a 9 1/2 hour flight to Santiago, plus a $131.00 travelers visa, we are here, safe and sound! As we walked out of the customs area, we were bombarded by nicely dressed men who offered Taxis and travel buses to the city center. As we both had traveled before it took us a while to get to where we were going (the $3 blue bus), but those men were so persistant that I felt like almost giving in...

Alas, we are here at our hostel and after a nice 5 1/2 hour nap, the beds are comfy and our sleeping bags warm (which is good because there is no heat in our hostel -- a comon thing that I fear I may have to get used to, however in the grand scheme of things, is totally freakin´worth it!). The hostess was so releaved that we both speak Spanish (in hindsight I shouldn´t have told her as Chilean spanish is so rápido and so different from the Spanish we are used to).

Tonight our Hostel is making a very tipical Chilean meal of savillicha (sp?) and pisco sour. It should be interesting to see how it is. Amber had both of these things (perhaps they are just typical of south america?) and she said they were great. The cook said he could make it nice and spicy for me (I remember thinking how bland I thought Spain was once I first got there, so this should be exciting!).

Tomorrow Amber and I plan on taking a walking tour around Santiago which should last four to six hours and shows off parts of the city. I hope it won´t be too cold! We will have to get up early as even though we are on East Coast time, it is 6pm and nearly dark out. I have my suspicions that it is because of the Andes blocking the sun. But who cares...its amazing down here. I can´t wait to explore more and more. Two more days here and then off to Valpo for a day or two and then a bus ride over the Andes (Big Bird help us all!).