Was it yesterday at our check-in, today there are some first impressions of Chile and Santiago. First, however, only textually.
The entry into the country was similar to slow as in Saudi, but without the visa arrangements and easy with our German passport.
I was struck directly in the eye, that the Chileans go considerably relaxed car as in Saudi, Saudi, but is there not to beat anyway. Another striking feature of the streetscape, the above-ground cables, which run along each road and is put forward for electricity, telephone and so on.
There are roads in Chile are 12 one-way street in one direction and 12 in the other direction. In the minutes in between there is a transition period. One can imagine that this character provokes accidents.
On the first night we got to know well the Chilean national drink, the Pisco Sour. This grape brandy with lime juice, sugar syrup and egg white is mixed. According sweet, but also extremely concentrated
Santiago offers many facets. One finds a modern financial district with skyscrapers. In addition, however, a neighborhood full of small shops. At the same time it is here but probably not sit too common on the street in a cafe and drink coffee. Strange really, because the street scene is infused with all sorts of green vegetation and dominant, and thus to offer for the eye he has practiced. One can certainly say that Santiago is made extremely green. Compliance is a significant difference to Saudi.
Within 10 minutes we were following a visit to a sculpture was parked in the inner city and out on a mountain from which one gets a very nice overview of Santiago. At the same time he is of all sorts of couples getting to know and used to have to watch out, such a unique look not intrude - had, Andi has to happen
Today we went out of Santiago, within just 2 hours up to over 3000 meters in the Andes. It is currently in Santiago on the basis of prospective summer pleasantly warm, but here it was extremely fresh. Nevertheless, not enough sunscreen to prevent sunburn. Here we may have to increase before it goes in the Atacama Desert to more than 4000 meters

to be told in the morning at breakfast the first thing that the Spanish air traffic controllers on strike, if you want the evening from Frankfurt Airport to Madrid, there to have a connecting flight to Santiago de Chile is rather suboptimal.
And so the day was given a certain basic insecurity that was the idea "that lasts only briefly" superimposed. When we arrived at Frankfurt airport, our flight was canceled or not.
It was so out should go like it. At the baggage of Lufthansa, we were referred to a ticket counter, where we sent an employee to another ticket to the upper floor. There we got a waiting number and the prospect to 2.5 hours of waiting time and information, all flights were canceled and 18 clock.
As our airport shuttle service still out there waiting to take us in an emergency take back, it went out again into the cold. During a brief visit to Terminal 2, we got the info from LAN Airlines, the airport in Madrid at least until the morning was blocked by 6. So back transfer to Terminal 1 and then but, after we had assured LAN, Lufthansa (our first flight) could also rebook the flight from Madrid to Santiago.
Since we are at this time were not sure whether we had to rebook at all, or if our flight is not still going and would open the air space over Spain might again, we went again to the baggage problem to us for testing, can be made. The queue moved quite fast and in fact we and acquaintances who are also wanted for their honeymoon in Spain were also quick on the switch. Our friend got, whether its intra-European flight, a flight the next day and a hotel before. We were sent away and that the ticket office on the first floor. Cheers to information policy ...
Fortunately, we had already a waiting number and so we only had to wait an hour before our turn came. Meanwhile, the air space was taken over by the military and air traffic controllers were using emergency condemnation threatened before the military court, so that they returned back to their jobs.
We did that of course nothing more, for both the flight to Madrid and the connecting flight to Santiago was now canceled. But we almost had a blessing in disguise and get a direct flight from Frankfurt to Santiago. Unfortunately, this was also canceled. But fly gabs after some searching the proposal the next day by 20 clock of Sao Paulo to Santiago. With the disadvantage that we had to stay and the hotel out of pocket because Lokalzusteiger had to pay.
After all, only a little over 24 hours late, contrary to others, which TUI was at the airport just as a dissolution agreement for a holiday in my face.
The hotel was also booked quickly and with 77 € also okay. In addition to directly pick up at the airport, with which it went straight to the hotel. Meanwhile it was already dinner time. This happened in the hotel restaurant. After that we were already more than ready and got the accident Bets that ...? not even with.
Unfortunately we had to check out by 12 again, so it was at least 6 hours to bridge up to the need to check. Experience in waiting, we had now collected and then the left by a tour of the entire Terminal 1 to withstand relatively good because we (continuously at Terminal 1, exit B to the gates) at the Zurich Insurance found an free internet access
Then another movie on the netbook, on which I type here in Sao Paulo at the airport, just this text as well.
The TAM check-in, that we should be now to Sao Paulo went even so far without problems, except for the seats. This fact should not coexist, but in the back of the plane (a Boeing 777-300) to be distributed fairly. For a fee of 50 € per person but then we could sit together and that too in the front row, which means much more legroom. safe for a 12 hour flight does not operate.
This was our odyssey a day late and completed so far and there was a fairly uneventful, but of course quite a long flight. And I can not say that I felt after the calculated 7 hours of sleep on the plane really fit
After about 4.5 hour stay and a little tourist-shopping was the second flight of our trip. This time with a Boeing 767-300 from Lan.

Now we are looking forward for the first time about the reunion with the family and have already taken the first impressions of Santiago

At least the flight to Chile is already a good deal and a long, so we've got almost half a world tour before us
Since we last night - the flight leaves at 5:45, so we have to get up at 3 - to leave for Germany and shortly afterwards on Saturday continued to fly to Chile, it will be here the next time be more quiet. There is then the end of the year / early next year, many impressions from Chile

Until then, Merry Christmas and a Happy, just in case it is not until then reads