Santiago Sightseeing day. Feb 25

Relaxing morning.  Beautiful warm, sunny day.  Maxine was up earlier than Tom (what else is new?) and went up to the rooftop bar to enjoy the daytime view of the mountain.  Nice buffet breakfast where we ran into the Belgian couple from the ship.  It was nice to be greeted with hugs!  They praised Santiago and told us that the city and Uber are both safe.   Then we packed up and left our luggage with the hotel.  Took an Uber to the nearby shopping mall which could be in Los Angeles -- shops of every common international brand and food franchise.  We took the 2 ½ hour hop-on hop-off bus ride.  Very well done tour with good info, synchronized location, shaded upper deck.  Continued to see people from the cruise.  It was like we were all touring Santiago which is probably true.  Spent some time touring and shopping in the mall then Uber back to the hotel to pick up the car ride and our luggage.  Relaxed at airport club before 10:40 pm flight to Dallas.  Since we wanted to sleep on the plane, we made a dinner of the food offered in the lounge.  

·        I’d hurt my back moving luggage on ship and it gets difficult to walk.  MJP has people handle our luggage or does it herself!  Surprised she can lift 50lb suitcases.

·        Slow start to day.  MJP up earlier than me.  To pool then breakfast.  Run into Belgians (guy with wild white hair) from ship.  On their recommendation we go to mall.  Stop for cash.  Can’t understand ATM but I ask Chilean girl to help.  She politely does then steps back to give us space to type in PIN.  Really no evident safety issues.

·        Have bought Hop on Hop off from hotel -- website has chat person who makes it sound difficult to do otherwise.  Take UBER to mall for stop #1.  Runs for exactly 2 ½ hours.  End back at mall, which could have been in America.  Eat from local chain's mall food

·        Guy who looks like Jim Laputka takes us to airport in Mercedes.  He's actually Cuban and hitch hiked here to make a living.  Helps with luggage.  Run into white blond hair guy and other couple who invite us to have drink but I’m focused on American lounge, because back hurts.  AA has someone help with luggage but we’re out of $ to tip.  Lounge has food.  We’re going to eat to avoid eating on plane.  Run into 2 other couples.  Texas ones friendly.  Others == guy has white hair and good posture/short.  Turns out they’re sitting behind us on flight.  They never say a word or acknowledge we exist.

·        Sleep well despite back problems, because of 2 ambien.  I don’t even have breakfast.