January 31: Patagonia
We had an early start this morning with a 5am alarm. Oh but it was worth it. I got a hot shower for the first time this trip! The shower in our room in Easter Island was lukewarm at best. Our hotel is located literally across from the airport terminal. No need for transport. It will be a travel day today; nothing is planned. I’m hoping to do some laundry this afternoon and get to bed early tonight. Steve and I are playing my ukulele, well, I’m playing, and he is singing. We all sang Lava together earlier at the airport. I think it was the best it’s ever sounded. It’s been fun having others join in my uke fun!
I’m working on a song for this trip that we can sing on the boat once we get to Antarctica. Knowing my songwriting skills it will be silly. I’ll keep you posted.
We gained some peeps today. Suzy the veterinarian and Shaun and Lisa. They all got premier seats on this flight. I need to know how they managed that <grin>.
At our boarding area we came across a Starbucks so I thought that after I walked to the bathroom I would surprise Keith with a hot drink. As I am standing there in line I hear him calling for me. There he was with a big smile on his face and 2 Starbucks cups in his hands! He had the same idea. Oh I love this man, 😍
So my work today of loving the moment is the dude sitting next to me has a wicked case of gas. I’m not sure quite how to live that unconditionally but I’ll be grateful that is not something worse.
Punta Arenas, in the afternoon
We broke from our group today to have an adventure on our own. I wanted to find a duffel bag and look around the town. Keith and I got a map and headed off. We found the main shopping area but everything was closed for siesta. Siesta! What a brilliant idea. When I was younger the siesta made no sense to me. Then I got older. Holy cow to take a nice break midday is a godsend. I am a convert!
We stumbled on a Chilean version of McGuckins, one of our favorite stores in Boulder. It had everything. It didn’t feel like a department store. It had underware, screwdrivers, cat toys, party supplies, and everything in between. We bought a toothpick dispenser for one of our kids, more paper for me and an air freshener that was desperately needed for our hotel room. We probably spent an 45 minutes wandering around in there.
On our way back we made a miscalculation and ended up nowhere near our hotel, but the universe had lead us straight to the cemetery. The people here seem to prefer to bury their family in mausoleums rather than in the ground. Each grave site has an area where the family places mementos for all to see. I found it fascinating, creepy, and cute, all at the same time. I had previously watched a documentary that talked about the customs around this type of cemetery and I heard that you have to pay for your space in perpetuity. If you don’t, and you don’t keep up on annual payments, your bones are evicted. It’s very different that’s what we are used to in the States.
I needed a drink after that, so we had a mojito and empanadas. They were so good and I gotta stop eating all this gluten. I am not going to fit in my pants next week.
Mari Sparkjoy 