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

Now, our plan was yet to even. We had booked through the company to fly with Lufthansa, to have the security of a flight to Germany, but not to lose the opportunity to just before the holidays last-minute offers to look. The latter has now worked at Saudi Arabian Airlines. So we save about 100 € per person and especially we can stay three days longer. Holiday I had one way or another until 30.12., But because the flight we were already at 27.12. back to speak. We are therefore of 2 to 4 December and then from 21 30 December in Karlsruhe

The road to the Saudi flights was not necessarily easy. As in September, we have before the final posting some playing around with the search engine of the airline as well as Opodo, just to see also whether a longer stay is at the same price possible.
Apparently lies in the accounting system but a classic "demand determines price" system. In September we had the same effect that is observed. After a few searches that were part until just before the booking, the price suddenly rose. Was it in September is 50 € per person we have for the Chilean air to put on it, it was in this case, of 2074 SR to 3700 SR high, nearly doubling.
With the experience of September, we tried it again this time then: wait!

And actually, an hour later I was again the site of the Saudia flight for the 2074th As we in the previous experiments with the credit card company had problems, I went directly to Opodo, where the company successful in the way properly.

Economically, it is thought, of course, very useful with increased demand the price to put on, but I'm not sad that we know that and in such cases simply with patience can wait for lower prices again

Now it's already almost a week ago that we arrived back from Germany in our Saudi homeland. Most of all I got stuck, that it is extremely green in Germany. I was previously not noticed. You have to go well first to get the first impression again

And of course it was nice to family and friends back to us. With 3-5 appointments a day, then we have also used very extensively Nevertheless, many remained for a visit not the desired amount of time left. Six days for such a visit in fact too short. On the other hand, I suspect that not having more time is really relaxed

Our way had indeed seven hours stay in Manama and we can say that the possible, but definitely not desirable. In the very low sky bar and restaurant, you can take around 7 € for a sumptuous curry to yourself and then with a movie about 4 hours are used up. With a bit of surf and chat with Mitwartenden you get around and another two hours, but the last hour is definitely annoying. Especially since the air conditioning in Manama is set to really cold.

So we were very glad that for the return flight was only two hours stay and those with transit security check, a half-hour diversion and directly again boarding pass very quickly.

Since the next flight to Germany and the flight to Chile, and the decision for the Atacama desert now fallen or are booked, we can now once again on the next holiday vorfreuen too. The order is now being expected to only 9 weeks away