We arrived at the airport in time and the Westjet flight right before ours circled around making two attempts to land before turning back to Halifax.
Our Air Canada flight was on a bigger plane (not much bigger) and it was coming from Toronto. As I tracked on my App I could see getting closer and next thing we knew it had landed.
A short trip to Toronto and a three hour layover there before our 9:15 flight direct to Santiago.
With our credit card we get access to lounges at the airport. With this long layover we took advantage of the Prestige Park Lounge at Terminal 1. It was good, but certainly not great. The lounge is relatively new and not everything is working perfectly yet.
The food was good with a selection of four hot entrees and four salads. Beverages were included, so I got a glass of wine. Wifi was almost impossible to log in to, including the airports free wifi. When I asked about it they apologized and said it is something the airport is working on. Sometimes I could log on sometimes I could not. Everyone around us was having issues too.
We boarded our flight and the plane was only a third full. It was a huge plane (sorry I am not really up on they types of aircraft but it was a big plane). Many people had entire row section to themselves, including Bernie and I.
No issues here with weather at all!
We took a sleep aid and I put on my sleep mask and I was out! I slept quite a bit, maybe 6 hours (off and on) of the 10 hour flight. They did serve a supper, which Bernie ate, I didn't as I was asleep.
When we woke they came around with breakfast, which was okay and hit the spot.
Arrival at Santiago airport we were first directed into a line where they put a gizmo that looked like a taser (but it was NOT) near our neck and it measured our temperature. We cleared that. Then we were given a questionnaire to fill out with basic questions about where you are staying in Chile, what was your seat number on the plane, do you have any symptoms and contact information. I guess this is a precaution in case they is an outbreak and they need to reach us.
We then were directed to a long queue where we were met by customs agents and our passport was stamped.
Next - collect our suitcases and then go into another line where all our bags were x ray and sniffer dogs were also going up and down the line to make sure there was not fresh produce/meats. Clear.
We purchased our bus tickets at the Centropuerto kiosk right outside the exit for transport to the main bus station Metro Terminal Pajaritos for $1,900 per person one way ($2.25 US each). Then we purchased a BIP card (their transit card) and loaded money on it. One card is good for as many as you wish. We then took the subway from Pajaritos to our stop Pedro de Valdiva. One thing we forgot was today is International Woman's day and there was a huge march where I swear there were a million people going. The subway was packed. Thankfully it was empty where we got on and all the people got off before we had to get off. It was impressive how organized and obedient they were.
Now I am not foolish in knowing that the riots that have happened in Santiago recently have been CRAZY and destructive. Burning buildings, breaking street lights, and causing havoc but today we did not encounter it, but we did stay away from it all.
Read next blog to see where we are staying and what we did that night.
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