Day 6--All Aboard!!

There were some weird curtains in case you
didn't want to see your seat mate!

We were to be on a 7:15 bus this morning so it was up at 5 (snooze…snooze…snooze) up at 5:30, shower and down to breakfast at 6.  They had all of the tables set up with the fruit and cold cuts of the first few breakfasts.  The couple in front of us got the last inside seats, so out we went.  Theresa hustled back upstairs to get a jacket.   After last minute packing, and check out, and on the bus we go!!  It was about 45 minutes, and we drove about ¾ of the way around the airport.  We were heading to the Private Terminal where they do charters and biz jets.  It also happened to be where there is a reasonable sized aircraft maintenance facility.  We noticed a few other people on the bus getting really excited about this…unnaturally so except for airline nuts.

Airport and the Andes

Airplanes!!

This looks more like a prison
than a cruise line check in!

At the terminal, we went through the security check point, and then found an assortments of cookies, chocolates, Pisco Sours, etc.  And hordes of people.  Well, almost 200.  Among them, we found several previously unknown coworkers of Bill, and talked about various trips to various corners of the world.  We got a sense of what we might sound like to others…as we felt so “untraveled”!!  Anyway, at length, they walked us out to the airplane and we boarded.  They seemed to put pairs into seats AB, CD, and EF.  Theresa and I had 27C & D, so aisle seats across the aisle from each other.  Uh, ok. 

This is normal air travel...right??

You wouldn't believe how hard it was to take this!

Not our departure!!  (Arrival)

Somehow, we finally took off about 100 minutes late.  They said it was a “Fueling Delay”, but honestly, if they didn’t ask me for help, then it’s their fault!  In short order, I found myself talking to the young woman in the middle seat, and found she is a pilot for…another airline.  OK, full disclosure, she didn’t live in a “hub city” so I speculated she was an agent of some sort…or maybe a flight attendant.  Nope.  A pilot.  (Yeah, I know…scorn on me!)  Anyway, we ended up talking over half of the 3 hour flight, covering all sorts of airplane/airline stuff that would glaze over Theresa’s eyes in minutes!

Once we landed, the deplaning was like a …it was a circus!!  They did a few rows up front (3?).  Then stopped, and deplaned the three rows in the back.  Uh, ok.  (I actually get it.)  But then they seemed to go back to the front?  People were confused.  People in rows 10-15 were heading back to rows 20-30 to get their bags, while we all sat there quizzically.  Then some people started getting antsy like maybe they had some tight connection?  (We’re all getting on busses and heading to the same boat!)  After we got onto the busses, they told us due to some weather last night, the ship was near, but hadn’t docked until 1PM so they were not ready for us.  We drove around in the bus at like 20-25 MPH.  We went up a hill.  The company contact person told us stories about a park and dogs, and fruit I think, and I have no idea what else.  But before story-time, a woman near the front stood up and started doing trivia from her phone.  I thought it was fun.  It beat the stories about feral dogs in a park that sometimes bite people.

Silversea Silver Cloud.  (it's not silver...or a cloud?)

Finally, we got to board the ship!!!  Woohoo!!!  We found our way to our stateroom, and our bags were already there!  The Butler come by and covered some topics, and then we unpacked and FINALLY (after 8) we found our way to dinner. 

We're here!!

(In case your geography is rough!)

There were too many good options for dinner.  But we settled on some appetizers, scallops for Theresa and Maine Lobster for Bill, a cheese plate, and finally a dessert spread.  Oh, and for some reason, Theresa paired her scallops with a beer.  After seeing several going by to other tables, she decided it just needed to be done!  Bill started with red wine, but capitulated and got a white to go with the lobster.  And a tawny port to go with the cheese.

Ravioli and Mussels

Scallops and Lobster

Empanadas, Hazelnut Cheesecake,
and Ice Cream! (and a Tawny Port)!

After dinner,  we headed to the bar to get a couple of drinks “to go”.  Well, we’re not very posh, I guess.  Instead of “to go” the bartender suggested we just get it sent to the room.  Oh!  Ok!!  So, one Hot Toddy for Theresa, and a double Jack Daniels (neat) for Bill.  The Hot Toddy hit the spot and Theresa is already asleep, so might be editing this tomorrow, so I get away with whatever I want to say tonight!  😊

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