The plan for today seemed simple enough, if not a bit vague and subject to key developments in the search for Cain's lost luggage. Our consensus was this—if the luggage is lost then it's lost and we can't make it otherwise just by calling various offices at Delta and fretting endlessly over the bad situation. It seemed then that if we were to enjoy any of our time in Santiago we would have to just put the luggage situation aside for a little while and go explore the city.
Jason had arranged for a guided van tour to pick us up at his hotel early that morning. So we had a simple brunch at Hotel Orly and then headed over to the Grand Hyatt so that I could lick the floors and smell the lingering stank of Madonna's ego—she stayed there the previous two nights while on tour.
The van tour was a wonderful way to see Santiago. It certainly helped that our guide was smart, funny and amiable. Carlos looked a lot like Antonio DiGiorgio, President of Winthrop University. So that was weird for me.
Carlos seemed very proud of his nation's history. His enthusiasm for Chile was infectious. I admit that I don't know a lot about Chile or its history. I just know that once upon a time, there was a dictator named Pinochet. And because I'm an American, I presume that all dictators are always bad. Interestingly enough, Carlos was hesitant to criticize Pinochet, but passionate about freedom and human rights.
Carlos showed us site after site, spouting the political significance of it all. It was almost too much information to process. But to be in the presence of a Chilean who wished to share their culture with us was a great blessing. We ended our tour back at the hotel and Carlos was bumping fists with us, giving high-fives and grabbing us and hugging us as we said our good-byes. He was a sweet man.
Then began the epic hellacious saga of locating Cain's luggage... a cloud creeps in over Santiago.
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