Made it at last!

So we have just spent our first night in the Hotel Bueno Vista in Lima.  Here´s the story so far!

Alice and I successfully found each other in Sydney and made our way to the international airport, where we joined our first ``line ride`` of the trip.  Our prize (all line rides have a prize!), boarding passes for two flights with seats 10 rows apart! We asked to have our seats moved, but the plane was oversold by 50 passengers, so no luck there.

Not satisfied with this outcome, we decide it is time to deploy our secret weapon.

The Bastable-Sheedy Method
The Bastable-Sheedy method (the BS method) is a technique for scoring sequential seats on a flight that is oversold.  Follow the steps below to glory

1. Board the plane and take your seats.
2. The person sitting in a centre seat (for convenience, the Sheedy, or the S) strikes up a conversatoin with the warm hearted middle aged lady with a trusting conscience (WHMALWATC).
3. The S explains to the WHMALWATC that he has been separated from his parter, and politely asks if she would consider swapping seats with the other party (the Bastable, or the B). The B, who is ten rows back in the plane, is sitting in a comfortable aisle seat.
4. Have the WHMALWATC turn and look at the B, who will wave from her seat and smile sweetly, but with a tinge of sadness in her eyes.
5. WHMALWATC agrees and the swap takes place. It is essential that the WHMALWATC takes all her carry on luggage with her.
6. No the BS has taken place and you are in your desired location.
7. A pushy fourth passenger enters the plane, late, proudly bearing one board pass to a very comfortable aisle seat.
8. This person arrives at their fortable and highly desireable aisle seat, to find the WHMALWATC already there.
9. An argument should commence, in Spanish, which will require the intervention of the air hostess. At this point, all parties become aware that some BS has taken place!
10. Hostess will scould the B and the S. The MAL (she is no longer warm hearted or has a trusting conscience) is unhappy that she is now in a centre seat, close to the back of the plane.  But because the flight is about to take off and all her luggage is moved, there is no time to switch!

So 20 hours later, including a 4 hour stopover in Tahiti where we were not permitted to leave the plane, we arrive in Santiago.  Alice has booked us a $12 backpackers.  We don´t know where our luggage is as it is supposed to be a connecting flight. So we go to the LAN airways desk where the lady informs us she does not speak much English.

Now I know I said I intended on using charades to communicate, but you try and act out ¨We just entered the country on flight LA804. Do we need to collect our luggage or has it gone on to Lima, and do we need to pay the reciprocity fee if we are flying out in 8 hours.

No luck there.  Fortunately our new friend Vivienes steps in to the rescue!

Vivienes is able to translate for us and let us know that LAN has actually booked us a hotel and there is a bus waiting for us.  Deciding between the 12 dollar backpackers and the LAN sponsored hotel, we decide to risk the hotel.  After several mode line rides, with the prize usually being a lot of stamps and a ticket ot the next line ride, we jump on the bus and head off into Santiago.

Gallantry in the face of defecation
So it turns out we made the right choice, as we are being put up for the night in the Sheraton.  Very nice.  We get checked in about 11pm and head upstairs to have a shower and try and get some sleep.

Alice comes out of the bathroom and informs we that the toilet, despite being very clean and white, will not flush.  I am not sure what she has done in there, but she tells me that perhaps I should urinate in the sink.  Now if someone suggests that to you, then its probably best you obey!

The phone rings at 3am telling us that our bus will be departing in half an hour.  We head down to check out.  I tell Alice that she should inform the desk of the toilet situation.  We approach the desk, check out, and Alice remains silent.

So I must, gallantly, step up and inform them that the toilet wouldn´t flush, and someone should probably look at it soon... The man behind the desk looks at me, accusingly, and says he will send someone right up.  Alice continues to remain silent as we leave the desk awkwardly.

With that road crossed we head back to the airport, and join a few more line rides and finally get on the plane to Lima.  This is not before indulging in some of the local delights!  Wanting to truly get involved in the culture of Santiago in our brief time there, we head for the Chilean institution that is Dunkin Donuts, which is Spanish for ¨Shit Coffee¨.

We board the flight, and 4 hours later we land in Lima.  We choose to take a taxi to the hotel, rather than brave the bus system.  Which, despite being about US25 dollars more expensive than the 50 cent bus, seems like a good way to ease ourselves in.

The drive through Lima was an eye opener.  It is very old and the buildings are of very poor quality, the poverty is shocking, there is dust everywhere, and you cannot see the sky for the pollution.  The traffic is insane, road rules appear to be generally ignored (although Alice informs me it is significantly better than in Vietnam!).

I think that is about all I have time for just now.  Here are some happy snaps from our room and of me enjoying my first cerveza (beer).  Since then we have enjoyed a sandwich from a place called Hot and Cold, and slept for about 18 hours.  Its 830am so we are about to head out for the day!