Our trip has officially begun. I would be remiss if I did not include tthe process of getting there. This is a huge part of travel, after all: actually traveling.
I don't know what it is about airports that I love. The movement, the excitement of something new coming, being surrounded by so many other travelers. And when you are there at 5AM, it's really like a one-room dorm room. People are sleeping, bags are laid out, someone is nonchalantly tucking in his shirt. And why shouldn't they?
Our first flight was to Seattle, with about a two hour layover. At this point, of course, we have no phones.*
*A note about the phones: Having a phone was a long decision making process. There was no way we could take our own phones, so at first the idea was to have a pay-as-you-go little cheap cell. But that took up precious space. So in addition to totally turning our phones off - as in, we are only paying to keep the line (saving over $300 between us for the two months without them), and we won't get any texts or voice messages from that time period even when we return - we have decided to go completely phone-less. There are pay phones, we have email and Facebook, and of course there is a comments section in the blog.
Anyway, being without this device that has become an extra limb for so many of us is quite liberating.
From Seattle we made our way to Dallas, where we had another two hours. In Seattle there were charging stations, but we had a much harder time finding a place to charge our tablets at DFW. Mine has books, and Tanya's has movies. And mine has the blog stuff. I foresee this being an ongoing issue.
The next flight was the longest, but fortunately it was also the most comfortable. Tanya chose two seats in a three-seat row that left the middle seat open in hopes that noone would take it. And they didn't. We also got more leg room, slightly wider seats, and meals. And we were right next to the bathroom, no one behind us, and an adorable little girl to our left that bade goodbye to Dallas vehemently.
Finally in Santiago, we wrangled a ride - as in, taxi and shuttle drivers were chasing us down and trying to bargain the best price. It's really beautiful so far, but we're just happy to be in Chile. We're staying in a hostel downtown, so we're getting to see some of the unique character of the city.
Our first flight was to Seattle, with about a two hour layover. At this point, of course, we have no phones.*
*A note about the phones: Having a phone was a long decision making process. There was no way we could take our own phones, so at first the idea was to have a pay-as-you-go little cheap cell. But that took up precious space. So in addition to totally turning our phones off - as in, we are only paying to keep the line (saving over $300 between us for the two months without them), and we won't get any texts or voice messages from that time period even when we return - we have decided to go completely phone-less. There are pay phones, we have email and Facebook, and of course there is a comments section in the blog.
Anyway, being without this device that has become an extra limb for so many of us is quite liberating.
From Seattle we made our way to Dallas, where we had another two hours. In Seattle there were charging stations, but we had a much harder time finding a place to charge our tablets at DFW. Mine has books, and Tanya's has movies. And mine has the blog stuff. I foresee this being an ongoing issue.
The next flight was the longest, but fortunately it was also the most comfortable. Tanya chose two seats in a three-seat row that left the middle seat open in hopes that noone would take it. And they didn't. We also got more leg room, slightly wider seats, and meals. And we were right next to the bathroom, no one behind us, and an adorable little girl to our left that bade goodbye to Dallas vehemently.
Finally in Santiago, we wrangled a ride - as in, taxi and shuttle drivers were chasing us down and trying to bargain the best price. It's really beautiful so far, but we're just happy to be in Chile. We're staying in a hostel downtown, so we're getting to see some of the unique character of the city.
More photos will come when we are in a better spot. And when we actually have photos. Tomorrow we will be more out and about. I already stick out like a sore thumb, so I guess taking pictures like a tourist is okay, since I obviously am one. :)
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