March 20, 2017 Chile
‘Special Handling,’ so it says on the toe, of a newborn baby, as my travels for the year have ended and the New Year begins.
Having now traveled for 331 days, (AirTreks)without issue I am now on my final leg of the trip as my planes follow the Andes north from Punta Arenas, with stops in Santiago and Lima on the way to Las Angeles on New Years Eve with a landing in Phoenix 55 minutes into the New Year.
Upon arrival in Santiago, and checking into my hotel, I found out the hotel was cash only. Requiring me to go into the subway to access an ATM, and warned of the dangers of doing so. With no other nearby option, and a tired body I ventured into the dreaded subway system, got my cash and got out. Only to realize upon arrival at my hotel, I had left my card behind. I rushed back to get the card before anyone else could, but I was too late. The lady at the nearby ticket window, said she could not help me. I saw a group of various young people sitting on ground, rails and steps near the ATM I asked loud enough so they could hear, if any spoke English?
A number of them responded, with one tall fellow, asking what I wanted. I told them I had left my credit card in the ATM. He suggested I go talk to security. And then a young lady by the name of Josefiita Brfjhgju López stepped up and said she would guide. Turns out she is an English teacher. Taking me to security, it turns out an older lady, found my card and had turned it into security.
That night I met with Norman Gutiérrez a friend of Sandy Miqueles and Vesna Alarcon who are friends of my June time taxi driver Roberto Esteban Perez Luna‘s wife, with information on an external hard drive and camera, which were damaged, and I had left with him. Neither could be fixed, with no charge for his troubles I took him for dinner.
As it turns out what I was told about Santiago and what I experienced were very different. When I was there in June I was told to beware of the Taxi drivers, and watch out for people steeling wallets and Cameras. Yet a taxi driver Roberto Esteban Perez Luna.a hotel receptionist Carlos Gabriel Alfonzo Gaskin and a young lady I have yet to identify, made sure I was save and secure.
Now again, I was told to beware of the ‘Subway People’ and again there was nothing to fear, young and old came to my rescue and myself and finances were secure. The greatest danger to me was me.
The next day it was time to check out and board my plane from Lima to Los Angeles, before the year’s end. And to handle my things with care, as I had up until the night before. So, I thought, until I went to board the plane finding I once again was without wallet in hand, pocket or anywhere else and asking permission to exit the plane before to take to see if I could find it. This was not permissible, but a flight attendant, chatted with the pilot and permission was granted. I went directly to the last shop I had been at but to no avail. I looked toward the flight attendant who reached out her hand with wallet in her palm. We, my wallet and I were reunited again.
On to the plane I alit, being greeted by a male flight attendant with my Camera’s cap in hand, which I had apparently left on my arriving plane. For all the talk of watch out for wallets and cameras, in this area of the world, they did a better job of looking out for me, than me. (Bringing thoughts of Kathy Hitchen Turner a cheerful mate of my school days and now an international flight attendant herself.)
Enjoy my last photos of the year, with a ‘Handle with Care’ baby. A good friend holding up a glass of ice above the Andes for the New Years toast. A snow crested Andes mountain with the ocean waves cresting at it base. A tinted glassed last sunset of the year, as it celebrates as if it were fireworks. All followed by the people who handled me with care as my year and adventure ended. Followed by the embryo of the Sun giving life to itself as for the 4 billionth + time announcing the end of one year blues and the bright beginning of another.
With the final photos, being all the things I did not lose and returned home safely, no thanks to me, but thank ye for all that looked after me on this 331 day journey. And Julie Anderson of Airtreks and Boots ‘n’ All travel, who is from the USA but lives in Santiago, helping to organize plane flights for me, that made this trip economically possible. https://www.facebook.com/pg/AirTreksRTW/posts/
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