Woke up early today and jumped on the net to find Melbourne Storm had beaten the Bulldogs in the Grand Final...Woo Hoo take that all you who criticise us and steal our players..Champions !
Due to the King of Jordan arriving in Cusco we had to leave early as they had closed off the parking at the airport !! So the luggage went out early before us then we followed. We had to stop outside the gates and walk in as it was total madness at the gates, thank goodness for Freddy.. Once inside we had the long wait for the plane, eventually we got off 30 minutes late. Arriving at Lima, Peter took off with Fernando to try and get his boarding pass..He was successful thankfully but Natalie wasnt so lucky.. she will have to get hers when she returns to fly out..We went back to our original hotel, the Casa Andina and we met up with David again..He had started his new tour of Peru with a different group. We got our suitcases back from storage and mine was a tad battered about and the Pulling handle was stuck in the up position..I had to call maintenance..The man tried for 30 minutes to no avail..so he cut them off..so now I have to use the short strap to pull it along...to think this was the new case I bought in Miami !!! Should have just kept my old one..Peters has splits in his..thy have really taken a hammering. Spent the next hour sorting what goes in what bag as we have to keep the cases to a strict 23kgs !! My backpack nearly weighs 23 !!
Went downstairs and had dinner with everyone and said our goodbyes. Sad to see the breakup of the group as you do become attached. The Americans all leave tonight.
Its Now Monday 1 October..we were picked up by Taxi at 5am ( The hotel stuffed up our car booking) so off we went..The ride was crazy as the driver kept stopping and starting, then he was texting then he was boing down all these back street..I was beginning to freak out thinking we were heading for a mugging... but eventually we ended up on the airport road and all was fine.!! Lined up and checked in..I was able to check right through to Sydney so got all my boarding passes..Unfortunately my bag also got checked through so I had a drama getting it out again in Santiago. Peter wasnt so fortunate, they checked his bag through to Sydney but didnt give his boarding pass. More shit to sort out when we land in Santiago.
When we went through we caught up with Bo and Lulu, they were departing 30 min before us. We were finally called to board and then sat on the tarmac for an hour before they took off.. Then after a 3 hour flight we sat on the tarmac again to wait for a gate.. We were very happy to get off the plane.. Unfortunately the line up to get through customs was huge and it took us over an hour to get through..worst I have ever had..Then when we get to the front we had to go back and pay for a Visa !!!  $95 later and back to the front of the queue we were finally let into Chile...of course while I chased my baggage Peter chased his next leg Boarding pass..I was lucky he wasnt.. The airlines had booked us into the Holiday Inn which was right over the road from the terminal and brand new..I was thinking we would have trouble checking in as the airlines arranged it but it went all smoothly and the hotel is lovely and the room is too. We got meal vouchers as well. Our next drama will be trying to get Peters boarding pass.
We went and had a late lunch & dinner and the waiter was terrific. Didnt charge us any extra, just had to pay for the beer.
We were so tired we just went to bed.
Today is Tuesday 2nd Oct
Got up had a nice breakfast then straight over to the airport to get the boarding pass.. We couldnt do it on the computer again..so when we got to the counter he said no cant do it until 4 hours before the flight !! So we went across to the sales counter and were told yes we could get it, so we went to a different clerk and he was wonderful, checked Peter in and even accomodated him with an aisle seat so he could stretch his right leg out.. Happy campers now we have a ticket to Sydney at least..Now we sit and wait till 2330 tonight..Arlene and David are coming in today..they are going to crack up if they have to pay for a 6 hour stopover, they are supposed to come over to the hotel for some drinks and a freshen up..it will be interesting ..:)
No photos as the camera has gone into retirement...