Day 13: Santiago

Sometimes traveling has very difficult moments. Today we thought about giving up and heading home. We’ve had a great trip and maybe it’s just easier to take those memories and get back to familiar more comfortable surroundings. We arrived at the airport at 6 am for our long awaited flight to Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

At 8:30 when we should have been boarding they announced a 45 minute delay. At 9:15, same thing. Last night there was a big storm with lots of rain, wind and lightening. The airline said they were waiting for flight staff to arrive. The airport was cold and wet from a leaky roof.

The day continued with delay after delay, each announcement being met with more anger. How did all of us manage to get here from various places, but their staff couldn’t? We found out later our flight had been cancelled in the early morning. Everyone guessed the airline was lying. We were all different nations, each sharing a dream that was slowly being crushed. Finally at 6 pm they announced the flight would be cancelled, and the new flight was the next day at 7:30 pm. This meant we lost TWO days on the island.  Then came the final blow: no meals and no hotel vouchers. I asked someone if this was legal, and she said “No, of course not. But who will enforce this?” The crowd went crazy, organizing and chanting “SIN VERGÜENZA! SIN VERGÜENZA!” (“shame!”) This part ended up on the national news! Chileans, man. They know how to protest. There were about 300 angry people and the airline did finally give in, but to process all of us, change tickets, and give vouchers took forever. Then we stood in another hour-long line waiting for the van to take us to the hotel. (6 persons at a time.) At the hotel, it was ANOTHER hour of standing in a long line until we were checked in. A long long day of long long lines. Now we are in a nice hotel, with soft sheets and we’ll see what tomorrow brings. I’m glad we persisted.