Cool Weather and Warm People

 Pacific Sunset - from CORFO meeting room

..... And from my Hotel window

                       
 Arrived on Sunday after a long long journey … in one piece. Wonder of wonders! Contrary to my usual travel travails, had both pieces of luggage arrive on time, I almost couldn’t believe my eyes when both the suitcases, sedately glided in on the conveyor belt, and indeed, were among the first to appear!

As someone rightly said during the  Corporate Services Corps  pre-work teleconference – Antofagasta grows on you. I feel myself on warm cordial terms with the place at the moment.

In just a few days – there are so many impressions, superimposed on each other.

The grey brown hills that dominate part of the landscape may be the closest to Mars that I will get to. I learnt that NASA had tested their Mars rocket here.

Lifting my head from my laptop screen and watching the orange sunset over the Pacific – reminds me that I need to go out and take that walk by the ocean boulevard.

Listening in to long fluid conversations in Spanish, and clutching at a few words that I can understand, like islands in that ocean! Reminds me that I need to get beyond the chapters on introductions, directions, and ordering food in “Teach Yourself Spanish”!

The delicious Pastel de Papas – an instant hunger inducing , piping hot concoction of potatoes, egg, cheese, meat, onions, and raisins – I want to go back for more!

The weather is cool, occasionally chilly, with some days pampering us with lovely sunshine and blue skies.

The people seem relaxed and everybody that I have met without exception have been so warm.There is so much that one could learn here.

#IBMCSC Chile 3