Miami International featured the famous (at least in my house) Cuban coffee, really (really!) good guava pastries, and flocks of stylishly dressed individuals. Some airline in the D terminal must have been unpacking runway models. My mother and I played vagabond for five hours while waiting for our Santiago connection, claiming a corner of a flashy tabloid and romance novel store for a while as I hoarded cooking magazines and secretively flipped through an un-purchased Economist ($7!!)
It will suffice to say that The Holiday is a terrible movie; I was thoroughly mushed out. Romance without substance leaves me uncomfortably squeamish and disgruntled.
The huge stuffed elephant my mother had bought at Ikea for a young cousin in Chile accompanied us on our journey; the flights were remarkably more comfortable as a result! It was also a great conversation starter with normally stern-faced officials. I guess three by two foot fuzzy gray stuffed elephants are a great testament to one's good character. I even got through with contraband nail-clippers.
I still couldn't sleep but for fitful naps and dark dreams.
The flight over Chile coincided with the sunrise, and the Andes mountain range (cordillera)
was unveiled of its' usual clouds to reveal dry and jagged mountains, rising high above the cloud line into imposing snowy teeth. My mother had never seen the Aconcagua in all its' glory as it was that morning.
We arrived in Chile after 24 hours of travel. 30 C, the hot and dry scent of the city hit me in a deep breath, familiar and pleasant.
Dania, thanks for doing this. I enjoyed reading about the giraffe's voyage through customs. Hope it was well-received, and that you're enjoying the warmth of the Santiago summer. Baird
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