Friday, January 4th. Arrival in Chile
We had a late dinner on the plane, with great appetizers but overcooked beef. Better that way so we didn’t overeat. I watched a movie and then slept for an hour or two. Nice breakfast – French Toast but very creamy, almost like a cooked bread pudding. We kept to our flight schedule and touched down at 10:40. Unfortunately no gate was ready so we sat on the tarmac until 11:00 but we deplaned shortly thereafter.
From the plane, we made a beeline to passport control, which looked initially like a bit of a line for Non-Chileans. But they opened up the Chilean citizen lines for us as we approached, since they were empty. We were through almost immediately. On to baggage claim where the bags weren’t coming yet but we could see that the lines looked horrendous at customs, wrapped around the room!
About a 10 minute wait for the bags, and luckily the lines had died down to nothing. There must have been a huge group ahead of us. We were through by 11:25 and looking good to connect with our 1:40 flight to Calama. It was a challenge to find the domestic check in for our LATAM flight, as we had to go up two levels and signage was poor.
There were no stairs or escalator, so we had to wait for an elevator. Big lines, but we made it and did self-service bag drop. Then we saw that the flight was running 30 minutes late. Extra time to relax, I guess. Through domestic security fast, and we were in the Priority Pass lounge around noon.
We had time for some snacks and Sauvignon Blanc, then we were off to the gate according to the new time schedule. It was a bus gate and not a jetway, and once on board we switched seats around so another couple could sit together, as she had a broken foot. After an unremarkable departure, and a bit of turbulence approaching Calama, we touched down at 4:00, not much later than we'd been scheduled.
Baggage claim was quick and we were outside meeting our guide and driver around 4:15, then quickly on the road.
It was a nice relaxing drive to Awasi, and the scenery looked familiar. Dry desert at first, with the occasional copper mine.
Mountains started up as we approached San Pedro. There are four mountain ranges in the area: the Coastal Range, The Mako Range, the Salt Mountains, then the Andes. We would come to know all of these soon.
Then of course there was the Valley of the Moon. We toured this briefly on our November 2017 cruise but we wanted to see more this time.
We arrived at Awasi just after 5:30. First, a tour of our room! That bed looks comfortable but we have things to do.
There is a central private courtyard out the double doors. An outdoor shower too.
Then we toured the common areas, and were shown to a table for snacks and wine. Nice salads and more Sauvignon Banc.
Finally we had time for a shower and change of clothes which felt great. We met up with our guide and planned our excursions for the next 3 days. Then it was time for a Pisco Sour before dinner at 7:30. The food was delicious, as we were hoping from a Relais & Chateau place.
We started with an amuse bouche, which was a morel mushroom stuffed with mushroom puree, followed by a salad with cucumbers and blue cheese.
Entrees were petite rib eye – a modest portion which was just fine. After the overcooked airplane meat, this was just the ticket.
Dessert was rushed so we could make the 9:00 stargazing trip. By some stroke of amazing luck, I had booked our stay here to coincide with the new moon. Great planning, had I actually planned it on purpose!
That meant that we would really be able to see the stars, as long as the clouds cooperated. Apparently the excursion had been canceled for the past 3 days, but tonight was fairly clear, so we were lucky. We finished dessert right at 9:00 and ran to the truck for our excursion. It was just the two of us and a Swiss couple from Lausanne – small world! We'd been there a few years ago.
We drove 20 minutes south for great naked eye stargazing and some telescope stuff – The Orion Nebula, The Pleiades, a Globular cluster, Sirius, and Mars. Some detailed explanations about Orion, The Pleiades, and Taurus too, from our guide Pablo. Then back to the hotel by 11 for bed. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
We had a late dinner on the plane, with great appetizers but overcooked beef. Better that way so we didn’t overeat. I watched a movie and then slept for an hour or two. Nice breakfast – French Toast but very creamy, almost like a cooked bread pudding. We kept to our flight schedule and touched down at 10:40. Unfortunately no gate was ready so we sat on the tarmac until 11:00 but we deplaned shortly thereafter.
From the plane, we made a beeline to passport control, which looked initially like a bit of a line for Non-Chileans. But they opened up the Chilean citizen lines for us as we approached, since they were empty. We were through almost immediately. On to baggage claim where the bags weren’t coming yet but we could see that the lines looked horrendous at customs, wrapped around the room!
About a 10 minute wait for the bags, and luckily the lines had died down to nothing. There must have been a huge group ahead of us. We were through by 11:25 and looking good to connect with our 1:40 flight to Calama. It was a challenge to find the domestic check in for our LATAM flight, as we had to go up two levels and signage was poor.
There were no stairs or escalator, so we had to wait for an elevator. Big lines, but we made it and did self-service bag drop. Then we saw that the flight was running 30 minutes late. Extra time to relax, I guess. Through domestic security fast, and we were in the Priority Pass lounge around noon.
We had time for some snacks and Sauvignon Blanc, then we were off to the gate according to the new time schedule. It was a bus gate and not a jetway, and once on board we switched seats around so another couple could sit together, as she had a broken foot. After an unremarkable departure, and a bit of turbulence approaching Calama, we touched down at 4:00, not much later than we'd been scheduled.
 |
| Leaving the Airport, Calama |
Baggage claim was quick and we were outside meeting our guide and driver around 4:15, then quickly on the road.
It was a nice relaxing drive to Awasi, and the scenery looked familiar. Dry desert at first, with the occasional copper mine.
 |
| Desert and Mountains, approaching San Pedro |
Mountains started up as we approached San Pedro. There are four mountain ranges in the area: the Coastal Range, The Mako Range, the Salt Mountains, then the Andes. We would come to know all of these soon.
Then of course there was the Valley of the Moon. We toured this briefly on our November 2017 cruise but we wanted to see more this time.
We arrived at Awasi just after 5:30. First, a tour of our room! That bed looks comfortable but we have things to do.
There is a central private courtyard out the double doors. An outdoor shower too.
Then we toured the common areas, and were shown to a table for snacks and wine. Nice salads and more Sauvignon Banc.
 |
| Dining Area. Felipe the bartender is at the far left. |
 |
| A delicious petite rib eye, Awasi Atacama |
We started with an amuse bouche, which was a morel mushroom stuffed with mushroom puree, followed by a salad with cucumbers and blue cheese.
Entrees were petite rib eye – a modest portion which was just fine. After the overcooked airplane meat, this was just the ticket.
Dessert was rushed so we could make the 9:00 stargazing trip. By some stroke of amazing luck, I had booked our stay here to coincide with the new moon. Great planning, had I actually planned it on purpose!
That meant that we would really be able to see the stars, as long as the clouds cooperated. Apparently the excursion had been canceled for the past 3 days, but tonight was fairly clear, so we were lucky. We finished dessert right at 9:00 and ran to the truck for our excursion. It was just the two of us and a Swiss couple from Lausanne – small world! We'd been there a few years ago.
We drove 20 minutes south for great naked eye stargazing and some telescope stuff – The Orion Nebula, The Pleiades, a Globular cluster, Sirius, and Mars. Some detailed explanations about Orion, The Pleiades, and Taurus too, from our guide Pablo. Then back to the hotel by 11 for bed. Can’t wait for tomorrow!
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