Well the mayhem quietened down around midnight or at least I heard nothing more but woke up to carnage this morning – so sad

Up at 5am, showered, hair washed and blown dry (for probably the last time in the next two weeks), fresh knickers but same clothes. No time for breakfast, straight to the airport and the sun was just rising.

On the way I passed the most beautiful scene and I wanted to shout stop to the taxi driver. Two huge Galleons docked in the port with the sun rising just in front – a would be stunning image!

But I couldn’t, the airport was still miles away and there was no time. If I’d have seen these on the way in last night I’d have ordered the taxi for an earlier time and done a little detour. But alas, I just had to divert my eyes because it was too painful to look at and think of all the possibilities 😩

I swear this rucksack is doubling in weight, carrying it from the taxi to the check-in desk felt like I had a whole house on my back and there was now nothing wee about my backpack. It was bulging at the seams and the zip was already broken meaning I could only open it one way. I’ll need to buy a third bag for my journey home as I have to buy a towel for Uruguay and there is just no way I’ll fit it in to either of them.

For all it was only a five minute walk to the check-in, I was so relieved to dump the hump on the scales and be rid – 20.6kg – a beast of a burden. The good news was my fight has been changed and I was now flying directly to Santiago instead of stopping off at Puerto Montt 👏 The only difference is I will have longer to wait for my connection flight to Montevideo and because I’ll have to check in again, I’ll be reunited with my hump sooner than I’d have liked but, it is what it is, I’ve coped this far.

In my little window bucket seat, seatbelt securely fastened, earphones in, select my playlist and the first song I hear is “Living in the Moment”, by Jason Mraz. Love that song, such a positive, happy, upbeat song, it even had my feet tapping as I sang along in my head. I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep for a while.

Well it was less than a while, I could still see the same mountains when I woke up. How can time go so slow!!

After a long arduous flight – well only 4hrs but felt like 40, we finally landed in Santiago and I joined the long procession heading in the direction of that ever rotating belt to collect my hump. It was only 11ish and I had already been up for 6hrs – and my next flight wasn’t until 4pm. That’s 11 hrs since I got out my bed and I’ve done nothing but sit on my butt in a variety of positions, experienced a variety of textured seats and stoated aimlessly about airports half heartedly looking for a towel.

I know nothing about football but I think there must be an important match in Lima. The airport is awash with supporters wearing red and white tops some with RFC (I’m guessing it’s not Rangers FC) and now and again we are being entertained by their dulcet tones as they wail out a rendition of their club song!

Why on earth did I change my seats to 29L!! It is in the last row, doesn’t recline and is right beside the toilets – what was I bloody thinking. If my experience goes true to form, when the man in from reclines his seat I’ll be squashed like a meat sandwich!

Well the flight came and went, the taxi from the airport to the hotel fleeced me (robbed me blind) had to be taken to the ATM to get money. Getting used to being robbed now!!! This was a taxi I had prearranged with the hotel and in their email it stated I could pay with card yet when I produced the card he said his machine was broken. He wanted $22, where am I going to get American dollars – the driver conveniently knew a nearby ATM.

A kind English speaking gentleman came over to help me as I could only take out $100 and I didn’t want that. It was he who told me that the taxi driver was robbing me and it wasn’t even an official taxi – what was the hotel playing at? The reason I prebook using the hotel service is to be sure they will send someone honest and reliable – certainly not this time – thieving mitt.

The gentleman told me not to pay him dollars and converted $22 dollars into Uruguay Peso. He followed me out and spoke to the driver! I’m just too trusting of people, I expect everyone to be honest and it just makes me feel a naive fool!

I have my work cut out tomorrow. I need to get to the bus station, take a 5 hr journey, get off in La Corollina and potentially find my own way to the turtle conservation project. Still haven’t got a towel, money or a clue where I’m going 😱

Maybe I’m just tired, I’ve been up since 5am and traveling since 6am. My bus is at 9:30am tomorrow so I’ll have to be up and out early. I’m not opening that ruddy rucksack – can’t face the struggle to get it closed again – my teeth will just have to rot

Actually if I’m honest I’m feeling anxious about tomorrow, what if I hate it, what if they hate me, what if I can’t swim as well as I think, I remember trying to show my kids how to do a handstand once and nearly broke my neck 🤣, what if no-one can speak English, what if I get lost….what if, what if!!! I’m getting fed up struggling on my own, it would be so nice just to sit and talk to someone about anything, to have a beer and just to talk out loud rather than have conversations with myself inside this burling heid.

Off to bed!

Nite 😘