Welcome back to our travel blog.  Mr. Tooth was getting antsy about not having gone traveling for a few months, so the three of us sat down and decided to do something very different for us.  We are flying to Santiago, Chile, staying there for five days on our own, then catching the Emerald Princess down the coast of Chile, around Cape Horn and Tierra del Fuego, onto Patagonia, then Uruguay, Argentina, and Buenos Aires.  Getting off the ship in Buenos Aires, we will spend a couple of day there, then Iguazu Falls both on the Argentine and Brazil side, then onto Rio for five days.

We started for the airport in Albuquerque and got caught in a huge traffic jam that wasn’t moving.  Luckily we had left a lot of time and got to the airport only to find our flight delayed by over an hour.  Our connections were closer than I like them, but we made the plane in Dallas for Miami, only to leave Dallas 30 minutes left.  We got to Miami and had an hour until the flight to Santiago left.  This flight actually landed early so all turned out well.

Sunrise from the plane window

The Andes from the plane window

Waiting on the concourse was a wheelchair with my name.  I didn’t order it but whoever did, bless them, because, as usual Customs and Immigration was what felt like miles away.  Not only was it faster than walking, but we went through Preferred screening and were through, with our luggage in well under 45 minutes. Princess Cruise Lines had also sent a representative who walked us through and found the driver they had arranged.  It was so organized and painless, that it makes us understand why we love to cruise with Princess.

Checking at the hotel was painless.  As it was early morning we were afraid the room would not be ready, but apparently Princess had reserved the room starting the night before (at no extra cot to us), and it was totally ready.

We were exhausted after our overnight flight.  It takes as long to get to Santiago as it does to London or Paris.  There is also a four hour times difference.  They are on Daylight Savings Time since it is summer so it was one hour less.  After we napped for several hours, we went to the bar, had lunch and now are back in the room.  We figured we would start our exploring tomorrow with the Hop On, Hop Off bus that stops right out side our hotel.  Well take lots of pictures then.