Thursday, November 21, 2024
After two amazing weeks touring the South American countries of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, our fun-filled, action packed Adventure finally came to an end.
It was time for a long trip home that was about to become much longer.
When we woke up and looked
out of our widow, we smiled as
WE HAD A PLAN!
Our original LATAM flight was scheduled to take off from Mendoza, Argentina at 10:40 a.m. and arrive at Santiago de Chile at 11:40 a.m.
Since our second LATAM flight from Santiago de Chile to Los Angeles was not scheduled to leave until 11:55 p.m., we were looking at a whopping 13 hour and 15 minute layover.
Our plan simply called for us to make sure that our bags were transferred from our first to our second flight, then grab a taxi into Santiago de Chile for another eight hours or so of sightseeing before returning home to Camarillo.
The snow capped Andes Mountains
to the southwest of the Sheraton
We set the alarm this morning for 5:00 a.m., in order to have plenty of time for a shower and any needed last minute packing.
LATAM had messaged us that we needed to be at the Mendoza Airport by 7:25 a.m. to start the drawn out process of checking in, going through security and clearing Argentine Customs.
Thus, we left the Sheraton Hotel at 7:00 a.m.
When we arrived at the airport, we received an update from LATAM, our flight was postponed to 3:00 p.m.
So much for our plan, we now had over seven hours to kill in Mendoza's clean and quaint airport.
The view out the front door of Mendoza's
Aeropuerto Internacional Gobernador
Francisco Gabrielli
Mendoza
How Good of You to Have Come
We all did indeed have a GREAT time in Mendoza but seven hours in any airport in the known universe is tedious to say the least.
Finally, it was 3:00 p.m. and
we were off to Santiago de Chile
Any flight over the Andes Mountains brings to mind the chilling story of the 1972 plane crash in this stunning mountain range.
Aboard that ill fated flight were 45 people, mostly members of a Uruguayan rugby team. Only 16 of them survived the crash and the subsequent 72 days in sub-zero weather until help arrived.
In 1974, the book ALIVE! was published that chronicled what these survivors had to endure including the survival need for some cannibalism.
I couldn't help noticing how, as we boarded our plane, other passengers kept eyeing me as potential smorgasbord should tragedy strike again in these rugged mountains.
"To Serve Man"
Laurie got . . .
. . . some great photos of the . . .
. . . Andes from her window seat
as we flew over them easily
When we arrived at Santiago de Chile's
Aeropuerto Arturo Merino Benítez
we only had another eight hours
until the flight to LAX
A decent chunk of that time was spent going through Chilean Customs, getting our bags, walking over to LATAM's desk to re-check our bags, going through security, clearing Chilean Customs a second time, eating dinner and doing a bit of shopping inside the airport.
Santiago de Chile's rugged but
still modern airport
Reading and walking through the airport to rack up much needed steps helped occupy our wait time.
Interesting depictions of
Chile's indigenous people
Of course, we were offered one
last shot at bringing home a
bottle of delicious Chilean wine
We passed.
GREAT, our flight was now scheduled
to take off ten minutes earlier than
originally scheduled!
After the plane's doors were closed right on time with all passengers on board, we just sat at the gate for another 40 minutes before finally heading to our takeoff runway.
Now aboard our final flight,
my step count for the day was
a solid one in my opinion
How is one supposed to eat
using this now L-shaped tray table?
The leg room for our scheduled 11 hour and 30 minute flight might be an issue too.
For once, I slept through much of the flight as no one sat between Laurie and I.
Additionally, as no one occupied the seat behind me, I was able to fully recline my seat which I never do with someone behind me.
A few weeks ago, at lunch in La Cañada-Flintridge with Michael D'Antuono and Paul Sabolić, I was told by both of them that I should watch a TV show starring Sylvester Stallone entitled Tulsa King.
They both said that this show is so bad that it was good.
LATAM had Episodes 1-6 of
Season One on their list of shows
I binge watched the six episodes and was hooked.
I really have to hang out with less influential friends than these two reprobates who steered me to this scintillating drama!
We finally landed at LAX at
7:00 a.m. on Friday
That was 31 hours after we woke up in Mendoza on Thursday.
As I said it was a LONG travel day but it was good to be home!
Now if I can just find out what channel Tulsa King is on.
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