Day 2 – 28/12/12 - Santiago to Punta Arenas

OK, today I am tackling differently, as this is proving very tricky to find time to write a diary and blog and photos etc etc. So now I think I’ll tell a bit of a story and just put in some pictures to capture the day…as best I can.

Even though we have only had ONE day out, already there is so much to see, do and talk about.

We had a great breaky at the San Galerias, then caught our pre-arranged taxi to the Aeropuerto. At the airport we met up with Karen, Nicole, Leanne and Gary, who were on the same flight to Punta Arenas.

The flight down was amazing…heaps to see out the windows, lots of mountains, volcanoes, snow and Lago (lakes)  

We arrived at Punta Arenas, a port town in the south of Chile. An interesting town that is very spread out and diverse in terms of housing etc.

Some of the challenges for the day, were about the language, eating lunch, we had trouble getting understanding about what the menu meant, Mary and Kate were keen to try a local beer, so they got that sorted and I chose a Chilean wine. Then we tried to translate the menu. We ended up with a hamburger ‘sandwich’ which was really tasty and hit the spot.

At the supermarket, Kate unfortunately had her wallet pinched, luckily the security guards were confident of having it returned and they bailed up the bag packing lady, who had it in her pocket. Kate was very lucky, as this wallet contained both cash and two of her cards.

We also stumbled across the Intituto Antarctico Chileno building, which had a great sign of the Antarctic, which we took photos at. It wasn’t till we were waiting for Kate to sort out her wallet, that we realised the model of Antarctica was actually ice…very cool!!!!

Out for dinner with the rest of the Vic Teachers Antarctic tour group to a little place up theroad called El Merado Chilote,we had Centolla – which is the local King Crab, it had been recommended by the eccentric poet in Santiago, it was very nice and light and refreshing.

Again the strangeness of daylight lasting late into the night, caught us on the hop, it was 10.30 when we left the restaurant and walked home, a bit cooler tonight, and some shops and bits and pieces were open on the way back, quite unusual.

Back to the hotel to do our laundry, we were going to put it in at the hotel, but got a bit stingy…so we used the bathtub and our clotheslines.

Yet again it was late to bed after a long day…tiring as all get out.

 View of a snowcapped mountain from the plane - Santiago to Punta Arenas.

 

Arrival at Punta Arena Airport, while we were not off to Antarctica tomorrow, it should be in a couple of days.

We negotiated a shuttle bus to the hotel for the bunch of us...here we are, all aboard waiting for our driver. L-R. Nic Riley, Karen Bowker, Gary and Leanne Edwards, Kate Crellin, Mary Morgan.

Whilst looking for the supermarket, I stumbled across the Chilean Antarctic Institute, later in the day, we discovered, that the Antarctic bit, really WAS ice.

Finally we got around to stopping for lunch, no idea what the menu said, or what we were ordering, but I got around to my first wine of the trip.

Cheers, with Mary and Kate.

Here we are out to dinner in Punta Arenas, at a place up the street. L-R. Nic, Gay & Rob Higgins, Karen, Leanne, Gary, Mary Kate, half of me.

 

Day 1 – 27/12/12 - Tullarmarine, Sydney, Auckland, Santiago

This is being posted on January 10 from Ushuaia, after disembarking our home for 10 days, the Polar Pioneer.

Alarms awoke us at 2.30am, me from a deep sleep, Mary – not so much! The Ciloms courtesy bus had us to the airport by 3.30 and there was no-one home yet, so we sat and waited for the Qantas staff to arrive.

Once we checked in about 4.30, we wandered through to the gate lounge, nothing was opened, so we waited for the coffee shops to open then we enjoyed a cuppa and read the complimentary papers.

The flight from Melbourne to Sydney on a Qantas747-300, it was a refurbished plane with interactive touch screens, quite comfy really.

At Sydney, we met up with David and Susan from our trip on the bus between terminals, then ran into Kate at the gate for our next flight, we had a bit of time to walk through duty free, but not enough to seriously look.

It was all the usual fun being early in the trip, not quite sorted, so juggling the passports, tickets, liquides and laptops, we hope to get a bit more organised as the trip progresses – fingers crossed!!!

There was an issue with out seating through from Syd to Santiago and Mary and I couldn’t be seated together, as it was a full plane, this wasn’t a major issue, as we at least had aisle seats and could talk if we needed.

I was seated in the second last row, but had a nice South American couple beside me and were OK, just got a bit sick of being second last to get fed/watered everytime.

We were all on board by 9.00 am, but still waiting for some passengers so took off a bit late. The flight time to Auckland was 2.45. Watched the Bourne Legacy on this leg, which managed to keep me awake…just.

Landed into Auckland approximately 12.50 AEST, through transit into lounge for a bit, met with Kate, David and Susan again , then back on board about 2.25 AEST.

Our plane from Syd to Santiago, was not quite so flash a LAN Airbus 340-300, a bit older etc.

This flight was approx. 11 hours and we had plans to sleep, so we could aligned to Santiago time, our best laid plans were foiled, as it just didn’t happen. Watched another movie – Contagion and some other TV series etc, did some reading, got dinner and breaky and some catnaps along the way.

Finally arrived at Santiago at 11.30am local time on the 27^th. No issues with customs or reciprocity taxes, though the airport was very busy, the lines moved pretty quickly.

We managed to organise a transfer to the hotel San Galerias. We dumped our gear and took off to explore.

Our first challenge was accessing some local PESOS, we couldn’t quite figure out the ATM in the hotel, they sent us across the road to a bank, and luckily some other Aussies from our flight and were able to assist us –easy when you know how.

By now it was about 2am AEST on the 28^th, but we were still on the 27^th…we wandered around the centre of Santiago and explored Cerro Santa Julia – a large hill in the centre of town which was developed into a public park by Benjamin Vicuna Mackenna in 1872. There were lots of terraces – like Neptune Terrace

Santiago is surrounded by mountains, and was quite warm, interesting to see that dogs just roam the streets, they are all quite healthy and very happy, but no collars or leads and seeminly no owners, they have great road sense, and cross at crossings when people do. Must get a photo of the dogs when I go back.

After our walk up and around the hill, we walked out to the artsy/foodie precinct, and had some tea at Sur Patagonica - I had a lovely Oceania Salad with a raspberry drink of some kind and Mary and Kate braved and enjoyed the local beer.

After tea, we wandered back to the hotel and back our for a bit longer. Finally made it into bed at 9ish Santiago time.

PS. Having trouble with photos using current wifi available, so will post the writing...sorry about that, the photos are the best part, I will keep trying.

Mary and I at the airport...super early and eager!

Having a cuppa and reading our last newspapers in the lounge- selfie in the mirror shot.

Selfie with the new iPhone fish eye lens think this was Sydney airport lounge

Panoramic shot of Santiago from the top of Cerro Santo Lucia.

 Kate and Mary enjoying a Chilean beer. We have been awake for a very long time, it's hot and they deserved it. Great place to eat Patagonica Sur in Santiago.

Me and my non alcoholic and extremely sweet berry drink...

Neptune's Terrace at Cerro Santa Lucia.

View of the Andes through the city.

Mary and Kate with the city and Andes as backdrop.

A red flower that caught our eye, around Cerro Santa Lucia.

Kate and Mary again.

Kate, Mary and I upon arrival at Santiago airport, awaiting our shuttle bus to the Hotel San Galerias.

Think this was us out "selfy-ing" each other.

Day 0 - December 26th - To Melbourne in readiness

As established in the last post, we got away and got down to Ciloms, after a stop off for a cuppa at Mary's sister Clare's house.

Clare, Janelle and Kate joined us for dinner at Ciloms, then they took off with Kate and the car.

Mary and I were in bed pretty early ready for the 2.30am start. After a last cuppa and finished off the delicious Almond bread I recieved for Christmas from Bronwyn.

The last cuppa, with almond bread c/- Bronwyn and Priscilla Jones.

Janelle, Mary, Clare and Kate kicking back in the motel room before tea.

On the road to Melbourne.

Mary and Kate arrived a bit after 2o'clock to pick up for the trip to Melbourne. Kate had the brand new iPad the family had received for Chritmas, she captured some shots of the Moe departure.

A short post from the phone en route to motel near airport. Ready for up and at em about 2 am, ready for 6am flight.

 

On arrival at Ciloms, we all went in for a cuppa, Kate was once again busy on the iPad. Good job Kate and thanks for capturing some moments.

 





The bags are packed

Well the re pack was successful. Got it down to 15kgs and hand luggage is under 7 as well.

The lawns are mown, the shopping done. All that's left now is to charge the electronics, celebrate Christmas and we are good to go.

Wow it's really surreal to think its all gonna really happen.

Six days till departure and 10 till we hit the Antarctic...OMG it really is real

Well, finished work this arvo for approx 6 weeks, that is a pretty amazing feeling.

The last few months have been hectic one way or another. One of the major stresses has been getting everything organised for the trip away. Now with 6 days to go till we leave home, I have only one stress left. I need to reduce the weight of the baggage. I have been throwing things in since the end of winter and am now procrastinating about opening the bag, unpacking everything and being EXTREMELY BRUTAL about what goes back in and what doesn't.

I am heartened (slightly) by the fact that Mary reckons she has packed (using my list) and her bags come in at 15kgs...which leaves room for purchases etc.  So I must be doing something wrong.

In the last little while, we have been waiting and recieving back my passport including Brazil Visa. the photo looks like a mug shot, but who cares, I have the passport back in my hot little hands.

Finally a week or so ago we recieved the ship tickets, baggage tags etc and vouchers for much of our accommodation, things were starting to seem very real.

Here's the package from Aurora. The company who we are doing the Antarctic with.

I have arranged credit cards, travel cards, US cash, booster shots for hep b etc, arranging for an overseas SIM card. All the while finalising the Christmas lists and shopping and wrapping.  Now it's all pretty much done...except for that dreaded travel bag...

Here is what it looks like currently...

Hopefully by this time tomorrow, it will be all sorted.


Have  Christmas coming next week of course, with a Moe Christmas with the Baths, Caldows, Davis's and Zajacs on Sunday and Christmas day with the family at Aunty Sue's in Melbourne.

Then it will be out of here before we know it.

December 2012...less than 20 days to go and counting

Back again, just for a quick update.

It is the silly season, with Christmas and end of year functions eating up time.

Thrown into the mix is the final preparations for the big trip. With departure just 18 days away, things are pretty nearly sorted out.

Bags are partially packed, last minute tours arranged - bring on the King Penguins and Tierra del Fuego on the 30th.

News from the travel agent, that there are some changes to flights so will need to sort them out in the next little while. They are post the cruise, so shouldn't be too dramatic.

We depart from Melbourne at 6.00am on the 27th, so plan to head to Melbourne on Boxing Day to accommodate the 4.00am check in.  We have a stopover in Sydney and Auckland before arriving in Santiago - Chile - still on the 27th, so it'll be a big day - with approx 20hours flying time plus 4 and a half hours stopover...so I think the sleep will be great when we arrive.

We had a final meeting of the group from Victoria, with a meeting at Jells Park Primary School. It was good to meet everyone again and some for the first time.

Mary and I have had our injections, with just our Hep boosters to have next week.

I reluctantly sent my passport off to the Brazilian embassy for a visa, and it finally came back last week, after more than a month...feels weird sending your passport off into the never never.

All our accomodations etc are booked. I only have to arrange two bus trips...but they can't be done until a month prior...so need to do this just before christmas.

Lots of research into best ways to manage money while away and have now got credit cards and travel cards and cash almost squared away...this time next week should see that ticked of the 'ever growing' list.

anyway, must be off now to update lists and get some tea on the go.

Next update may well be 'in transit' or somewhere along the way.

Take care!