WHERE WOULD YOU BE???!!
OK, this is getting to be really bad!
I cannot find my mailbox key since Tuesday!
Means: I haven't been able to get my mail for almost a week!
MY KEY, WHERE COULD YOU BE?
I looked everywhere, all over my apartment, in my purses, pockets, under my sofa, under the fridge! (getting desperate, as you can see!), under my many pales of papers, even went through my recyclable trash (papers and plastic bottles).
NOTHING!




Where do YOU find your lost keys!
Help, help, help!

Day one is not particulary interesting.

Started our long journey: 3 different planes, many hours in curled possition.
Did I grow taller or something, or plains are somehow smaller nowadays?!
American crew was not very polite (should learn from Chileans).




Highlight: the sunrise!


First view of the Andes: it was all worth!

It is about 30(-ish) hours before my trip.

You should see me now: 2 pair of pants on, thermal shirt, backpack on my back (with a pair of hiking shoes in it), and over all the rainproof jacket with a hood.

No, your friend has not lost her mind completely (maybe a little bit ), I am just trying to figure out if the jacket can fit over the clothes+backpack. And I was curious if I can wear 2 pairs of pants at the same time. In case it gets cold.

Here is the dilemma: do I need waterproof (skiing) pants so in case it rains I would be protected?
These are bulky and heavy, and I can carry only 20kg (max. for the local planes, and way over my max. carrying capacity!)

I planned to take a photo of my packing but my place is way too messy to take a photo. I have most of my (and some borrowed things) all over my home. And it is 1 am!

Still to do:
finish packing
cancel mail delivery
get money from the bank
go to work tomorrow
get extra memory card for the camera
print e-ticket (my printer wouldn't work) which is plane ticket
add music to my ipod

I am sure there is more, just cannot remember right now.

Temperature in Santiago 27-28C, in southern Chile in low teens. Scattered showers here and there.

Yesterday, as a preparation for the trip I went to nearby cliff with 3 different pairs of hiking shoes to make a final decision: which pair is going to Chile with me.
I was able to eliminate one pair easily, but than I still had to decide between my shoes (pretty comfortable but not as high, not sure if waterproof) or my friends (waterproof, good ankle support, but hurt my left foot last time).
So after fast climb up and down the cliffs (twice) my friends shoes won the trip to Chile. Left foot (shin) was not hurting; right inner malleolus (don't know other word for that bone) was a tiny bit, but I hope it will be fine during the trip. I am also taking my Nike sneakers; those should be comfortable.

Thanks everybody for your support and words of wisdom during my preparations.
I will keep the diary and take many photos (of course!) and when I come back will share the beauties of Southern America with you.

Maja

Less than a month to my trip to Chile!
A friend of mine (thank you Kim ) gave me her hiking shoes and told me they are very comfortable, waterproof and perfect for long hikes.
So I wanted to introduce my feet to her shoes, and what better way than going for a nice hike by the Ocean and near by clifs.

Here are some photos form today:


The Beach
Itchy beak

Stone carving
Lunch time

Paragliders

In the air

Swimming class
















And after only 3-4h of hiking, my left foot is hurting!

Where did I stop?! Hm, let me see...
On Sat morning I went to that Japanese mechanic-David (popular Japanese name?) that I talked to over the phone the previous day (all though he could not remember that!) and left my car there for him to 'diagnose' the problem. Price $45.
And he said he would call in about 1-1.5h.
So 3h later, no call from Dave so I called him.

And he said that MY CAR IS NOT IN HIS SHOP!!!!

After a short while we figured out that I went to a wrong mechanic, the guy next door, also David (Chinese guy called David?) and he even went next door to double check. And of course my car was there.
Chinese David told me (2h later) that my fuel pump connection is broken and that he has to replace the whole pump.
New pump $400
Labour $200
Plus tax.
But he would generously wave $45 for the diagnostic part.

I looked up on Internet: new pump is $233. The guy really wanted to make money on my Goldie.
So I called Japanese David asked him how much he would charge for the same work:
New pump $340
Labour $120
Plus tax.

So, Japanese David (Dave for close friends-like myself!) got the job!
And since yesterday, ($460 later), I am sooooooooooooo very hopeful that Goldie is going to be just fine and that finally I can get (and pass) smoke check and register car in CA!

See now what Goldie and I have been through!
PS
Next several days (until Monday) I will be off (New Orleans+Charlotte)!
Have a nice weekend everybody!