(Photo of me trying a local Chillian drink/dessert called "Mote con Huesillo Rico". It's a refreshing peach flavoured drink with pieces of peach and wheat/rice at the bottom).
Hi guys, please excuse my entry today. Everything is in spanish so it´s kinda difficult to navigate. I will try and make this a quick one. Don´t know if it will actually get posted coz I don´t know spanish.
All i can say is - it is great to know that over 60% of communication is non-verbal- we are relying on a lot of sign language here as most people can´t seem to speak english and the others simply don´t want to. We figured the other 40% of communication is necessary in order not to get ripped off as we realised today upon entering santiago.
As soon as we stepped out of the airport, we were bombarded by "official" taxi drivers. We were looking lost (tip for travellers - never look lost...lol) so we were approached by one innocent looking rather handsome young tall dark...sorry i´m losing my concentration- where was i- yes we were approached by a taxi driver who i negotiated the payment withto reach our hostel. Luckily i had the booking details which mentioned that we shud pay 10000 or max 15000 pesos to reach the hostel. after the driver agreed he rushed away with my trolley and me chasing behind him while shyama´s trolley was being pushed by another. To cut a long story short - after reaching the hostel he says that it is 10000 pesos per person not per taxi...which we knew was a load of crap. Oh well we didn´t have any option but to pay after some argument as our stuff was on the street and we didn´t have a chance to call for assistance from the hostel concierge.
Anyway- we are safe and happy. I have also realised that i may have a real chance at losing some weight since vegeteriano food is not available. i had steamed vegies and mashed potato for dinner with a bottle of mineral water con gas (fizzy) which i can´t stand. I was meant to orger Agua mineral SIN gas (still). u live and learn i guess.
Shyama and i are planning to master 4 useful sentences per day... "por favor nos trae la cuenta¨ "can we have the bill please".
P.S. I delayed my plane in Auckland as I seemed to have lost my passport and given myself and shyama a minor heart attack. after searching all our bags and seats, and getting 3 or 4 security officials to search, i finally found it between my and shyama´s chair. (tip 2- ok i knew this already but we all make mistakes- ¨don´t put important documents in open trouser pockets, they are likely to fall out).
P.S. photos won´t come until shyama gets back to Aus in feb. We dont know how to upload them-no software.
over and out till later.
ciao (this time i can say it and mean it).
Jag.
All i can say is - it is great to know that over 60% of communication is non-verbal- we are relying on a lot of sign language here as most people can´t seem to speak english and the others simply don´t want to. We figured the other 40% of communication is necessary in order not to get ripped off as we realised today upon entering santiago.
As soon as we stepped out of the airport, we were bombarded by "official" taxi drivers. We were looking lost (tip for travellers - never look lost...lol) so we were approached by one innocent looking rather handsome young tall dark...sorry i´m losing my concentration- where was i- yes we were approached by a taxi driver who i negotiated the payment withto reach our hostel. Luckily i had the booking details which mentioned that we shud pay 10000 or max 15000 pesos to reach the hostel. after the driver agreed he rushed away with my trolley and me chasing behind him while shyama´s trolley was being pushed by another. To cut a long story short - after reaching the hostel he says that it is 10000 pesos per person not per taxi...which we knew was a load of crap. Oh well we didn´t have any option but to pay after some argument as our stuff was on the street and we didn´t have a chance to call for assistance from the hostel concierge.
Anyway- we are safe and happy. I have also realised that i may have a real chance at losing some weight since vegeteriano food is not available. i had steamed vegies and mashed potato for dinner with a bottle of mineral water con gas (fizzy) which i can´t stand. I was meant to orger Agua mineral SIN gas (still). u live and learn i guess.
Shyama and i are planning to master 4 useful sentences per day... "por favor nos trae la cuenta¨ "can we have the bill please".
P.S. I delayed my plane in Auckland as I seemed to have lost my passport and given myself and shyama a minor heart attack. after searching all our bags and seats, and getting 3 or 4 security officials to search, i finally found it between my and shyama´s chair. (tip 2- ok i knew this already but we all make mistakes- ¨don´t put important documents in open trouser pockets, they are likely to fall out).
P.S. photos won´t come until shyama gets back to Aus in feb. We dont know how to upload them-no software.
over and out till later.
ciao (this time i can say it and mean it).
Jag.
2 comments:
haha - good work jag, i had a similar thing happen to me in madrid, with the taxi driver ripping me off....next time agree before you step in. and in ur druken nights finding a taxi, nothings speaks "take me home" better than pulling out your hotel keycard (with the address of the hotel on it) and saying "Quanta Questa" (how much?)!
travel safe, and better let shyama handle the passports :p
HAHAHA...THANKS for the tip. Shyama is handling the hostel keys so far. we got some gret pics today...can´t wait to mail them eventually. tc
Jag
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