Saturday, January 12, 2019 – Leaving Patagonia
Up before dawn, just a few minutes before our alarm and we were ready to go puma hunting again! We gathered at Rodrigo’s truck just before 4:30 and we were off. It was another long circuit, the same one that we’d made previously, but again no luck! Oh well.
We got back to Awasi just before 7:30 and promptly went back to sleep until 10:00. Then we got up, showered, and packed. We were able to fill one suitcase with dirties and heavy clothing that we hopefully won’t need in the tropics at Iguazu, and one with stuff we will keep using.
We went to the lodge at 11:00 to check out, and the wonderfully attentive staff fussed over us because we hadn’t come to breakfast. So they scampered around and made us tea along with cakes, and then a meat and cheese platter. The staff here were really super and I will miss them so much.
Rodrigo loaded our bags then we said our goodbyes, but not before the staff gave us bag lunches! We jumped into his truck for one last bumpy drive over the dirt roads to the main highway. We took the southern exit this time, so one last fording of the river and then a shortcut to the highway. The view of the Torres was again beautiful, so one last shot before we turned away.
The drive to Puerto Natales was fast and we were there way early, around 1:15. Rodrigo brought our bags in and we said goodbye; he was off to pick up his next clients soon. The airport was tiny and the few available seats were already taken. Nobody was manning the check in counters yet so we stood around and tried to get cell signals – the data connection is only good if you step outside, strangely enough. We munched an apple from our lunch bag and waited.
People started lining up in the priority line and when the agents showed up, they mobbed that line while we went to the regular bag drop line – which we thought was correct. The agents took a few people from the priority line before us, then figured out that they weren’t really priority and kicked them out of line and made them get behind us, so we had guessed correctly and finally, we checked our bags. Then there was a wait for the security screeners to show up…
Security was relatively slow but once through at least there were more seats. So we had our sandwiches which were really tasty roast beef with mushrooms on a chewy roll. All of the bread at this Awasi had been excellent and this was no exception. Then we lined up for boarding.
Instead of scanning our boarding passes they took the paper copies. Luckily I had an electronic copy of mine on my phone, because a comedy of errors ensued once we walked over the tarmac to the plane. We were in 1A/B as always, and I sat as usual. The FA came over and said that I couldn’t sit in that seat…there was a sign saying “not to be used” on the seat! OK, but I showed her my boarding pass telling me to sit there. Luckily I had this, as seriously think she would have kicked me off the plane without it.
The FA said that I should not have been assigned that seat, and that I needed to go back to the airport to talk to the agents there! That was insane, as the plane was pretty much loaded and I wasn't about to get off and leave, so I asked if I could sit in the empty seat in 1C for the first leg, which they allowed. So we were off on the short hop to Punta Arenas. Hopefully they would straighten it out there?
When we landed, the FA explained the situation to the gate agent but nothing happened for a while. Someone sat in seat 1F which had the same issue, so the FAs started getting nervous. Someone showed up for 1C so I moved back to 1A. Then the gate agent came on and started taking to the FA and they looked even more nervous. I was worried that they’d not have a seat for me at all!
But it turns out that they did have two seats together – in row 26. So we went back there with the FA, only to find someone in those seats. But two other seats were available so we were placed there. I wasn’t convinced that we would stay there until we actually took off. But we did, and the flight was reasonably smooth to Santiago. We even landed at 7:30, 25 minutes early! However, it took almost 20 minutes to get off the plane, so that was a wash.
We arrived at the luggage claim and about 2 minutes later, our bags were among the first off! Excellent, and we were exiting and meeting Cristobal right at 8:00. The drive to the Ritz was lightning quick and we were there around 8:25. The door staff asked our name, and then told me that we should use the private check-in facility at the 10th floor Ritz Club. Apparently we had been upgraded? Cool!
We went to the oasis of the Club and were given sparkling water and had a nice relaxing check-in. Now, to freshen up in the room and find something to eat. We went back to the club for a glass of Carmenère wine while considering out options.
They didn’t have enough food to even make for a light dinner so we decided to find a restaurant nearby for a quick bite. So we retraced the steps we’d taken with Jeannette a few days prior, and eventually found Restaurant Mila which fit the bill. We sat outside and enjoyed the summer weather in January.
2-for-1 Pisco Sours ended up being 3.000 each, and then we had a hamburger. Overcooked, but after the raw beef at the Peruvian place, maybe that wasn’t so bad. The fries were great and we were back at the hotel a little after 10:00. Time for sleep after that stressful day!
 |
| Last Sunrise, Torres del Paine NP |
We got back to Awasi just before 7:30 and promptly went back to sleep until 10:00. Then we got up, showered, and packed. We were able to fill one suitcase with dirties and heavy clothing that we hopefully won’t need in the tropics at Iguazu, and one with stuff we will keep using.
We went to the lodge at 11:00 to check out, and the wonderfully attentive staff fussed over us because we hadn’t come to breakfast. So they scampered around and made us tea along with cakes, and then a meat and cheese platter. The staff here were really super and I will miss them so much.
Rodrigo loaded our bags then we said our goodbyes, but not before the staff gave us bag lunches! We jumped into his truck for one last bumpy drive over the dirt roads to the main highway. We took the southern exit this time, so one last fording of the river and then a shortcut to the highway. The view of the Torres was again beautiful, so one last shot before we turned away. |
| Leaving Awasi Patagoina |
The drive to Puerto Natales was fast and we were there way early, around 1:15. Rodrigo brought our bags in and we said goodbye; he was off to pick up his next clients soon. The airport was tiny and the few available seats were already taken. Nobody was manning the check in counters yet so we stood around and tried to get cell signals – the data connection is only good if you step outside, strangely enough. We munched an apple from our lunch bag and waited.
People started lining up in the priority line and when the agents showed up, they mobbed that line while we went to the regular bag drop line – which we thought was correct. The agents took a few people from the priority line before us, then figured out that they weren’t really priority and kicked them out of line and made them get behind us, so we had guessed correctly and finally, we checked our bags. Then there was a wait for the security screeners to show up…
Security was relatively slow but once through at least there were more seats. So we had our sandwiches which were really tasty roast beef with mushrooms on a chewy roll. All of the bread at this Awasi had been excellent and this was no exception. Then we lined up for boarding.
Instead of scanning our boarding passes they took the paper copies. Luckily I had an electronic copy of mine on my phone, because a comedy of errors ensued once we walked over the tarmac to the plane. We were in 1A/B as always, and I sat as usual. The FA came over and said that I couldn’t sit in that seat…there was a sign saying “not to be used” on the seat! OK, but I showed her my boarding pass telling me to sit there. Luckily I had this, as seriously think she would have kicked me off the plane without it.
The FA said that I should not have been assigned that seat, and that I needed to go back to the airport to talk to the agents there! That was insane, as the plane was pretty much loaded and I wasn't about to get off and leave, so I asked if I could sit in the empty seat in 1C for the first leg, which they allowed. So we were off on the short hop to Punta Arenas. Hopefully they would straighten it out there?
When we landed, the FA explained the situation to the gate agent but nothing happened for a while. Someone sat in seat 1F which had the same issue, so the FAs started getting nervous. Someone showed up for 1C so I moved back to 1A. Then the gate agent came on and started taking to the FA and they looked even more nervous. I was worried that they’d not have a seat for me at all!
But it turns out that they did have two seats together – in row 26. So we went back there with the FA, only to find someone in those seats. But two other seats were available so we were placed there. I wasn’t convinced that we would stay there until we actually took off. But we did, and the flight was reasonably smooth to Santiago. We even landed at 7:30, 25 minutes early! However, it took almost 20 minutes to get off the plane, so that was a wash.
We arrived at the luggage claim and about 2 minutes later, our bags were among the first off! Excellent, and we were exiting and meeting Cristobal right at 8:00. The drive to the Ritz was lightning quick and we were there around 8:25. The door staff asked our name, and then told me that we should use the private check-in facility at the 10th floor Ritz Club. Apparently we had been upgraded? Cool!
 |
| Pisco Sour at Mila, Santiago |
We went to the oasis of the Club and were given sparkling water and had a nice relaxing check-in. Now, to freshen up in the room and find something to eat. We went back to the club for a glass of Carmenère wine while considering out options.
They didn’t have enough food to even make for a light dinner so we decided to find a restaurant nearby for a quick bite. So we retraced the steps we’d taken with Jeannette a few days prior, and eventually found Restaurant Mila which fit the bill. We sat outside and enjoyed the summer weather in January.
2-for-1 Pisco Sours ended up being 3.000 each, and then we had a hamburger. Overcooked, but after the raw beef at the Peruvian place, maybe that wasn’t so bad. The fries were great and we were back at the hotel a little after 10:00. Time for sleep after that stressful day!
No comments:
Post a Comment