This morning was a very early start.... 2.15am in fact!! I would consider that early!! My transfer pickup time was 3.15am. By the time I got ready, squeezed the last few items in to my bag, and essentially struggle for 5 mins to zip my bag up, I go and check out and my transfer is there waiting for me!!
We make it to the airport in record time, and I am escorted to the checkin counter up my guide. I am the first one in the queue, and I watch as the one guy sets up all of the computers, turns on all of the scales, wheels a few signs around, then ducks out the back. Holy crap.... I was standing there for ages waiting for them to finally open up and start checking people in.
Finally they open up the LAN check in desk, and I am called over by that one guy who was setting everything up. I get the feeling this dude is new. Not solely because he is the one poor b****** who is left doing all the crappy jobs, whilst everyone else is obviously sitting out the back, drinking their coca tea and eating their empanadas, but he also gets a pep talk by his senior about remembering to check passports. As I wheel my bag over to him, I start to get a little nervous about how much this sucker is going to weigh. I mean, he is filled to capacity, I was scared the zip was going to split when I did my bag up. I gave my ticket and passport over, and I closed my eyes as I put my bag on the scale. Looking through my fingers I am super happy to see that it was only 21.5kg..... Woo hoo!! So essentially the storage capacity of my bag means that it won't go over the 23kg limit!! Brilliant!!! Shame I don't have any space left to fit anything else in. I dodged that bullet, and just as I was thinking that I was in the all clear, the guy asks my if I have cabin luggage. Holy crap..... This isn't going to be good if he wants to weigh it!!!
Sure enough, the next words out of his mouth was, can you please out your cabin bag on the scales..... Crap, crap, crap. I'm in trouble. I have to make it under the 8kg limit, and anyone who has seen my mother cabin bag knows that I could fit a hell of a lot more than 8kg in it. Again, I nervously put the cabin bag on.... 7.9kg!! YES!!! I had to stop myself from doing a few fist pumps, as well as high 5ing the check in guy. As I wipe the sweat from my brow, the checkin guy puts a tag on my cabin bag, saying that it's cool to go on board!!! I get my plane tickets, and my passport back and I head to security.
Now, would you believe me if I told you that immigration and security were closed when I walked over to it. There were 2 guys sitting there, just talking to each other and having a good old laugh. As I approach, the ropes are blocking my entry into immigration... and when I look at the guys, they say something to my in Spanish.... So I'm guessing that they aren't open yet. Hmmm.
I took a seat, and as soon as the coffee shop opened I went straight over to pick myself up a nice cup of coffee, killing two birds with one stone by using up some of my left over Bolivian coins.
As I sipped away on my extremely hot, tongue burning coffee, I watched as more and more people confusingly turned up to go through immigration and security, only to find that it was closed! Well, at least I'm not the only one!!
Nearly an hour later, they finally opened up the barrier ropes, and allowed people through. By this stage the line was pretty long, so I decided to join before it got too out of control.
I patiently waited, and glad to report that there were no queue jumpers today... So no need for crazy Michelle to unleash her inner karate kid!!
Through immigration, I then hit a wall of people. What the hell is this line for.... there was a separate table set up just before security, manned by a single person. As we all patiently waited to be called over to this guy, one by one, I soon realised that it was a narcotics check. Everyone had to put their cabin bags up on top of the table, and watch as this guy searched our bags thoroughly. He riffled through everything.... Nothing was untouched.
Once I had finished at the table, I then still had to put my bag through the X-ray machine and walk through the metal detector frame.
After a short wait, it was time to board the plane, and said goodbye to La Paz, and goodbye to Bolivia. I was off to Chile!!
When I got on the plane, I started searching for my seat, and it soon dawned on me that I was in the very back row of the plane. I was happy when I saw my allocated seat on my ticket, and saw that it was a window seat. However I was a lot less excited when I saw that my window seat didn't actually have a window. This is the suckiest seat ever!! I sat there all tucked up in the corner, the only good thing was that fact that 2 Canadian's were sitting next to me, so having a chat was quite easy.
The 2hr plane trip to Lima went quite quickly, so did the 1 hr transfer time. I only hope that my bag has managed to make the flight!!!
I board my second plane, this time heading to my final destination Chile.
I had been issued an aisle seat, in the middle if the plane, so no window views for me today!! That guy who allocated my seats this morning in La Paz sucks!! What terrible seating allocations, the seat gods weren't on my side today.
However I was soon drawn to my favourite plane invention.... The in flight entertainment system located in the headrest in front of me. I actually have time to watch some movies as well!!
I don't know why I ever thought that watching the movie 'the fault in your stars' was a good idea on the plane. There was no hiding the tears on this one. Again, the 3 hour plane trip went quick, and we were soon landing in Santiago.
I disembarked the plane... and on the way to immigration I saw the dreaded sign.... 'Entry reciprocity fee for all Australian, Canadian and Mexico citizens this way'. Damn. I head down the direction of the reciprocity cashiers, and hand over my credit card, as I watch as she direct debits $117US off my card. Sting.... straight off the bat.
I head through immigration, weaving my way around the barrier ropes. I eventually get called to my immigration officer... to find that she is more interested in talking on her mobile phone than checking if I'm a legit tourist. I'm not complaining.... at least I didn't have to sweat through a caning of questions!!!
I head to the baggage carousel and wait for my bag to join the long belt. After quite a while of waiting, and seeing the same bags spinning around and around on the carousel, I start to get a little nervous, maybe my bag didn't make the plane. As if the holiday gods heard me, I then saw my bag flip out on to the carousel.... and I wait until it makes it's way to where I'm waiting.
As I pull my bag off the belt... Something's different about my bag. One of the straps has been undone, as I look closer, I realise that my lock, which was threaded through my bags lock clip, has been ripped off my bag and was locked on the opposite side of my bag. The zip on the front pocket had also been broken open. Gees they have given it a red hot go.
I went through customs, and headed out the exit, to find my driver holding the board with my name on it.
He helped me out to the car with my bags, and drove me to the heart of Santiago. If only the smog wasn't as bad as what it was, I'm sure I would have had great views of the Andes as we made our way into town. However, instead of taking in all of the views that Santiago had to offer, I was more preoccupied by what may have been taken from my bag. Thinking about it, there was only really clothes and toiletries in there.
I soon arrived at my hotel, and as soon as I checked in, I headed to my room to inspect if anything had been taken from my bag. I opened it all up, and soon realised that everything was there. I think the biggest problem they had was fitting everything back in my bag, as they had to put some of my clothes in the front pocket. Hahahaha, serves them right for opening my bag!!
Happy that everything seemed to be there, I decided to have a quick walk around the block of the hotel and see what Santiago has to offer. First stop was an ATM. I needed to get some Chilean Peso's.... I'm not going to get very far without any cash!!!
I then walked past a cute little bakery, so I decided that I would just get a really nice bread roll for dinner. That will do.... I'm not that hungry anyway.... more tired!!
I continued to walk around, just checking things out. I soon headed back to the hotel.... It's time for an early night!! 2.15 wake ups aren't my best friend!!!