Chile - Santiago

My plane was delayed in Rio by about an hour due to technical issues. They did not tell us what they were, so I guess it was better that they found out what the problem was before we took off and rectified it. This meant that when we stopped over in Sao Paulo, we could not leave the plane, as planned. Planes get very hot when they don’t turn the air-conditioning on and you think that opening doors will. I tell you now, it doesn’t. There were two other passengers from Australia on the plane and they made me embarrassed to be an Australian. I think that they were of an Arabic background from Sydney. They would laugh and joke at the service staff in a mix of English/Arabic and then demand things, with a few 4-letter words included. I felt discussed to be an Australian, the first time for a long time. We were all in the same situation and their actions were uncalled for.

The flight was a little late leaving Sao Paulo, so it meant that Paul, Danni and Natalia, had to wait a little longer at the Santiago airport. I was so thankful that they were collecting me, as I think I was still feeling the effects of my sickness in Rio. It was a week before Christmas, so it was hard not to get my thoughts off my family back in Australia. Being back in Pauls’ apartment was great, as it is my South American home, and I was in familiar territory again. Paul and I went and played Pichunga (baby football) a few times that week. It was great fun, but I realised how unfit I am. Plans were also in full swing for a Chilean Christmas. It is a little different here, as they don’t seem to decorate the streets and shops with such enthusiasm as back in Australia. There are very little Christmas movies and very few Christmas carols. I guess we are a little commercial about it in Australia. Danni and I went shopping a few times for various foods and drinks in preparation for the big night. We would also go out and purchase gifts for various people, most of whom I had never met or knew off. I guess a child changes people’s lives. I mentioned big night before because in Chile the Christmas celebrations take place in the evening of the 24th. I think that most of Europe and Latin America are like this.

Christmas dinner was great! Danni did a wonderful job of preparing and cooking the chosen foods for the evening. I think that Nati got most out of the celebrations and she reminded me so much of my little niece, when she started handing out presents and kisses to everybody. I began thinking of the family back home and realised, with the time difference, they too would be sitting down to their Christmas Lunch or opening presents, like we were. So I decided to give them a call and check in. It was great to talk to them. I tried calling a few others in Australia, but none answered my calls. Not to worry, they were busy with their celebrations. While I was chatting to the folks, the Self-Saucing Chocolate Pudding I had prepared was in the oven. So after the roast turkey and trimmings, we all sat around and ate my pudding with scoops of vanilla ice-cream… I must confess it was good, but not as good as Mum’s Traditional Boiled Christmas Pudding with brandy custard. I really missed it this year. We all shared stories about various Christmas we had had over the years. I also shared some of my stories from my time in Brazil. I guess by talking about them I stared to miss them.

I also got in contact with Daniel and arranged the final details of my planned stay with him in Villa Aleman (German Village, in English), which is about 30-45mins by car from the seaside towns of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso. For those of you who don’t remember, Daniel was the guy I stayed with in Brazil. The family connection is that his Dad is the cousin of Karen, Lorena, Nashi, etc. The plan was that I was to travel there and spend New Year’s Eve with him, as Vina and Valparaiso are the party towns in Chile, when it comes to New Year’s celebrations. So a few days after Christmas, I called Dad to wish him a Happy Birthday, chatted to the family and told them my NYE plans. The following day, I packed my bags again, said my goodbyes to Paul and Danni, and was off.