Slip, Slide Northwards!

Final dinner on board, we joined the jovial Nigel, from UK who had kept us in stitches from Day 1: Lewis from Texas, an inveterate traveller: Nathan, our 20 year old pal from California, who is taking a break from his AI dissertations: Nicole from Sydney, a fun loving charming media Executive: and the 4 dollies from Dublin ( The Antarctic trio became the Dublin Foursome, when we met a fellow traveller, the gorgeous Joanna from Dublin!

Surprise, surprise, we were last to leave the Dining Room, despite the best efforts of the staff! Such fun we had and how lucky we were to meet such great travelling companions. I suggested Singapore would be a good halfway spot for a reunion, but the jury is out…for now!!! We met so many other fabulous people as well, but 8 was the largest table available that evening.

Early departure at 06.30 next morning and a refuelling stop at Punta Arenas added some time to our departure from the magical Seventh Continent. I was thrilled to land in Punta Arenas, the capital of Chilean Patagonia. It was the main port of navigation between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans before the Panama Canal was built in 1914. It is located between the two largest freshwater reserves in the world, the Antarctic and the Southern Ice Fields! I had often read and heard of it, so delighted I landed there however briefly.

About 9.00 a.m. we were served Chicken Broth, quickly followed by the Bar service!!! So some Bubbles had to be consumed to soften our sadness of departure! After all, it had to be after 6pm somewhere in tbe world!!

However on arrival, the ghost of luggage lost visited me again! No bag!!! Unbelievable! Small aircraft, door to door to private terminal, but Jean’s bag was not there!! Suffice to say, after about an hour, it was found having got to tbe hotel before me! Phew!

A beautiful sunny, warm, Santiago day, drew us to a beautiful pool on the 21st floor with breathtaking views over the city. Couple of hours of chilling out, cool swimming and more laughs and gossip…of course… whiling away the afternoon. Then, the WAN with whom we didnt want to share our space shows up!!!There’s always ONE on every trip, isint there? Well, boy did we have her!! Blonde, botoxed, labelled to death and pushy! Kind also,( my kind pal reminds me?) but…! Anyway space at the pool was somewhat limited, but she managed to bag enough space for 4….all for herself, and would not share, as we listened..again..to her demands, exploits and observations and her musings on whether to upgrade on BA….we hv all met them!!!! Hv to bitch a bit..don’t I? Pls forgive!!!

There was a major music Festival on, in Santiago and judging by the large number of people hanging around outside the hotel, one of the Stars was in resident, along with US! He/She could have been swimming alongside me at the pool, but I was oblivious to such fame! What have I missed???

The view from the rooftop was just wonderful, so we decided to toast adieu to Chile, while watching the sun go down behind the majestic Andes, as who knows, if we shall pass this way again.

And now, Argentina beckons!! Hasta mañana!!!