Easter Island-Santiago Day 7

Day 7 – Thursday, November 29, 2007 – Flight Easter Island to Santiago, Chile

Today was a travel day but we had plenty of time to have our breakfast and finish packing our bags. Patricia and Chico were at the hotel at 9:30 AM to take us to the Mataveri Airport, only a 5 minute drive from our hotel.

The airport is very small with only 3 gate agents so it took a while to check our small bags, get our boarding passes and go through security. Some of us helped the local economy by buying a few last minute souvenirs.

In no time at all we were ready to board the LANChile flight #844 back to Santiago. Because of a medical emergency, our flight was delayed 40 minutes while a Rapa Nui man and his medical attendants boarded the plane to take him to Santiago.

Once in the air, we could see the island and its peaceful and generous people behind us. Being able to spend almost five days here in Easter Island was truly an opportunity of a life time.

Our flight back to the mainland of Chile was very smooth. We were served lunch and enjoyed conversations with other passengers during the five hour flight. On our approach to the airport, the plane barely skimmed the tops of the coastal mountains before dropping into the valley of Santiago.

We arrived in Santiago at 7 PM and after going to pick up our luggage we were met by our friend Eduardo and Edwin, our driver for the afternoon. They took us from the airport to our hotel where we were greeted warmly by the staff.

We were able to get our keys and the luggage we had left in their care and then went to the rooms to settle in for the next two days. We did some unpacking and organizing.

At 10 PM we decided to get a bite to eat so we walked out into Avenida Ricardo Lyon where we saw the Pizzeria Da’ Tito. We had a medium pizza and a couple of cokes. Gennie had seen Bravissimo Gelateria so we stopped there for an ice cream on the way home.

When we got back Gennie washed a few things and set out some clothes that would be laundered by the hotel. I finished up the map and journal for tonight’s web pages.

By 11:30 we decided to call it a day so we could get a good night’s sleep as tomorrow will be a busy day.

If one is considering traveling to Easter Island, please check this site and facility CLICK HERE. It was opened in Fall of 2008 - a year after we were there but by our driver Chico and now a village elder and leader.

Accommodation: Hotel Diego de Velasquez - - - Meals: B, Flight L