Santiago, Chile: A Long Way from Anywhere

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I am guessing you are reading this blog because you're interested in Santiago, Chile, or what I'm up to, more or less in that order. I will try to be somewhat informative, and personal where I feel open and honest.

Exactly nine days ago, my husband Don and I arrived in Santiago, Chile, on a sunny spring day. As the local weather forecasts describes everyday, there is "abundant sunshine," in the spring time down here. The temperatures range from the high of low 80's to the low of high 40's. The humidity is around 30 - 40%, making it the kind of spring time weather that Don loves the most. Me? I like a few such days followed by a good cleaning rain.

This was a long journey. My travel route: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Los Angeles (9 hours via Phoenix), then to Syracuse (13 hours via Philadelphia). Syracuse? It's a story for another time. A short hop from Syracuse to New York, then via COPA through Panama City to Santiago (about 7 hours each leg between JKF-Panama and Panama to Santiago).

It's almost like crossing the entire North American continent and then the Atlantic:

Seattle to New York: 2404 miles (3868 KM)
New York to London: 3463 miles (5573 KM)
New York to Panama City: 2224 miles (3579 KM)
Panama City to Santiago Chile: 2991 miles (4881 KM)

Santiago, the southern most real metropolis on the long and barren west coast of Chile, stirs up some uneasy feelings (panic?) of being trapped. Unlike in Seattle, New York, or London, Santiago is a long way from anywhere. My days of hopping on a plane or jumping into a car for a trip to another country are on hold. The closest major international city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is 583 miles. I can't just pick up a rental car and drive over the Andes whenever I want to get away. It would be an adventurous journey over the hairpin turns, though. I would most likely fly the first time until I've figured out a way to take a rental car over the mighty Andes into another country.

There is the nearby coastal city of Valparaiso, which we will visit this weekend for three days. Then there is Mendoza, Argentina, about six hours away. Still, my heart sinks every time I scrutinize the Google map for a quick getaway. No matter how I manipulate the map on the screen, enlarge or contract, I am a long way from the places and things of some familiarity to me.

I console my heavy heart by conjuring up the images of the fabulous winds and vastness of the Patagonia, the lake districts, and even the great blue ices of Antarctica for possible explorations. These wild calls to the nature are beginning to fill up my homesick heart.

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Photos

Saint Cristobal Park
One of the largest metropolitan parks is seven Metro stops from us. A funicular ride and about 100 stone steps to the statue of Our Lady.

Comments

[John Forget]

Very Exciting
Hi Kay. Please continue to write about your amazing stories. Include me on any updates, please. Don't forget to visit http://www.elementsrealtygroup.com if you are missing Vallarta. Have a great journey.

[togo]

Thank, John!
I hope to add photos when I get my repaired laptop back.