I meant to mention yesterday, that one of the flight attendants on the Latam flight, handed me a card at the end of our flight, wishing us well and said she hoped the rest of our holiday goes much better than the first day. The crew felt so sorry for us when they heard our saga. What a sweet gesture. We hugged each other and bid adios.

We slept all through the night, I slept till 6:30 and Allan slept till 7:30. We really needed the sleep. We showered and went for a very nice breakfast at our hotel and then went off in search of the Hop on Hop off bus station. The concierge gave us directions and a map, but after walking up and down where he told us to go, looking for the Stop 9 Hop on Hop off bus depot, and asking numerous people, we couldn’t find it and just gave up.

It was lunchtime and we had empanadas. They didn’t compare, as Allan commented to me, to our friend Rosa’s empanadas, and I heartily agreed. We asked for a Chilean Malbec which they didn’t have, but he brought us what he touted as “an excellent Chilean wine”, which also missed the mark.

The hostess at the restaurant befriended us and told us to be very careful with our belongings…especially while holding a cell phone, because people come along and snatch it out of your hand. This was the same advice we received in Peru, but this lady also said be careful when giving cash. If you give a $100 bill to a taxi driver, they can make a quick switch and say that you only gave them a dollar…and show you ‘the dollar’ you supposedly gave them. Even the guide said not to take taxis but rather Uber if need be.

When we left we thanked her and wished her “Tenga un dia bueno”, and she thanked us and wished us the same.

We still don’t have our luggage. I went back and forth with numerous WhatsApp texts as well as emails. They kept wanting the same information over and over and over. What is my cell phone number and what is the address to the hotel. They once again promised delivery today. That didn’t happen and they said the reason was…”We do not have any mobile phones that will be sent out for dispatch today, everything is sent tomorrow.” What????? What do they need cell phones for? They have the hotel address which to me seems paramount. The lady on the WhatsApp said she would help me but then finally said it all was up to the shipping department and it was out of her hands. Then she asked, what else can I help you with? Are you seriously kidding??? And then she asked me to write a review for the help she gave. Again… Seriously?? Anyway… The bottom line…we’ll be lucky if the luggage comes tomorrow.

We met the rest of the group and they all seem really nice and I think we will have a wonderful time with them. We met Jonatan our guide and he went over everything we need to know for our trip to Easter Island. Afterwards, we walked to a restaurant and enjoyed a tasty dinner with a delicious Pisco. I had flan for dessert and Allan had a decadent Death by Chocolate piece of cake that he couldn’t finish. We had a lot of laughs at the table and got to know a little about each other.

Then it was back to the hotel for another good nights sleep.

Card from the Latam crew.

Empanadas. The dough was very thick.

My salad and the Pisco. (Forgot to take a pic of the entree and the dessert.)