Fri-Sat, Jul 5-6 - Returning Home

After breakfast, we drove down to the water again and walked along a newly constructed part of La Rambla, the seaside pedestrian walkway on the south side of town. 

There was a sign warning of dangerous surf at high tide, but it looked pretty safe that morning, and we had a good time for about a kilometer or so.

We returned to Casa Zapallar at noon, loaded up our car, and took off towards Santiago. 

 We passed the outskirts of Valparaíso, a big city on the ocean, and a hillside covered with Chilean wine palms, and then turned inland through miles of vineyards and fruit orchards.

We reached the Santiago airport at 3 PM and turned in our faithful car.

View of the Andes

After riding the car rental bus to the terminal we bid Hilary and Caitlin farewell as they took off in a taxi for downtown and the W Hotel, where Hilary can use her hard-earned Marriott points for a couple of luxurious nights for them both.

We stood in line for 45 minutes until the American Airlines’ counter opened up and relieved us of our luggage.  More lines at passport control and security and then we found ourselves in an American-style food court with a hankering for a hamburger!  We went to Johnny Rocket and split a Route 66 (hamburger with grilled onions, mushrooms and cheese) and a coke (delicious!)  and proceeded to our gate.  We eventually went through another inspection on the jet way, boarded and settled into our comfortable Premium Economy seats for movies, dinner and drinks.  Still not owning a TV, we were unaware of John Oliver, whom I discovered as one of the TV choices, and introduced to RR which kept us well entertained for several hours.

We landed in Dallas at 5 AM, and went through customs, baggage claim & re-check, and yet more security and groggily found our new terminal and gate.  A decent Mexican breakfast, onto the Santa Barbara flight at 8:30 AM and landed at 10 AM in FOG in Santa Barbara.  May Grey and June Gloom….I really thought by this time the weather would have improved!!  But it’s still cool and cloudy.

I picked up Madeline who howled more than ever, but eventually quieted down, happy to be home, as are we.

Maddie settling in

 

Hil and Cait arrive home Monday morning – I hope they enjoyed the trip as much as we did!!

Trip stats:  92 species of birds seen, 10 new lifers for Bob.  Hilary drove 3200 KM, or  1920 miles.