Santiago with Trevor

The day after Christmas we went on a road trip down to Santiago. We decided to drive instead of fly because we wanted to see what Chile is really like. So Sunday morning we took off towards Copiapo where our first stop was to drop off suitcases to our recently arrived Latin missionaries. Their luggage is shipped via bus from the MTC in Santiago but this time no suitcases arrived until after the missionaries had been sent to their sectors. For a week they have been living out of what they could carry on the plane. After a LONG lunch (there is no fast food here) we were on the road again, headed for Vallenar. Leland and I were excited as we drove through Vallenar and entered the Vina del Mar Mission boundaries. This was uncharted territory for us. And it looked exactly the same as our mission. But we kept on driving...

Fourteen hours after departing from Antofagasta we arrived in Santiago and finally made it to the hotel around 1:00 am. It was honestly the longest drive. Worth it? Yes. But we won't drive it again. We have seen the countryside and now we will fly to Santiago. Nevertheless, we had fun in the car together listening to music and talking and laughing the whole way.

The next morning we slept in a bit and then hit the shopping malls. Leland's Mac computer hasn't been working so first stop was the MacOnline store (the Apple store here in Chile). They were so friendly and helpful but of course didn't have the right hard drive to fit his computer. So we will have to order one and get it installed at Dr. Mac here in Anto. But we did find lots of other distractions in the mall. Here we are enjoying Starbucks hot cocoa with oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies. Never mind that it was 80 degrees outside, this was our one chance to have Starbucks.

We shopped around lots and didn't buy much. It just felt good to see familiar stores and smells (we found a pretzel place that smelled like home). And I found the MAC cosmetic store and bought a new lipstick.

We did visit the Santiago Temple grounds and took some pictures. What a beautiful temple...and the flowers were gorgeous. I forgot how much I love flowers. I kept commenting on the blooms all around the city as we drove from place to place.

The fence in the front of the temple was too close to the door so we couldn't get a good picture of the angel Moroni and us in the same shot. But Leland and Trevor posed by the front door.

Here I am with Trevor, who by the way loves everything Latin American. He was a trooper following us around as we marveled at the beautiful sights of Santiago.

A sweet man was going into the temple and stopped to take this picture of us. He saw our name badges and told us he had served his mission in Antofagasta years ago. What a tender mercy to have a picture of all three of us.

A picture of the angel Moroni.

We walked around to the back of the temple for better angles of the entire temple. I think I'm glad my face is shadowed.

After our temple tour we headed to a Mexican restaurant in Santiago called the Tortilla Factory. It is owned by a North American and was pretty good. Chips, salsa, enchiladas and chicken tacos with beans and rice were a nice change from the normal Chilean food. We brought home three dozen corn tortillas because they aren't sold here in Antofagasta. I'm thinking tacos are in our future for dinner.

Then it was time to go to the airport. This was the part of the week I dreaded the most. The airport was buzzing with people going to places all over the world. We found the biggest Christmas tree around to take some final pictures. This first picture shows me happy and smiling but things get worse later.

Leland and Trevor by the tree.

Looking for the flight information for Trevor.

The flight information kept flashing on and off the screen so fast that we had to watch it several times.

One last picture with my boy. Here I am starting to cry and trying to not make the ugly cry face. I gave him a quick hug, started bawling and then Leland started crying. Trevor quickly walked away so we couldn't get too dramatic.

It's rough saying goodbye. We don't know when we will see him again. I hate this part. And the only thing to look forward to was a 14 hour drive home the next morning. I think Trevor got home to California before we got home to Antofagasta. We did make one last shopping stop to the grocery store in Santiago. They had a few more things there that I can't find in Anto. But no brown sugar!!!!

We got up early Wednesday morning and made the long drive home. Thankfully we had the IPod for music and lots of snacks. We loved our adventure to Santiago and feel rejuvenated from spending time there and are ready for a big interview month in January. Thank you Trevor for coming all the way down here to spend Christmas with us.