| CHILE |
| In April 2007 my mom, Teresa Parker (V.P. Of E.C.F.) came to Bariloche for a visit and to see if we were truly safe in this “third world country” for herself. She is also a travel agent www.grandeventsandmore.com . She has seen many places including the Caribbean islands, Hawaii, Bermuda, Alaska … and she said that Bariloche has the most beautiful landscape and water. She discovered, as we did, that Argentina is as modern and safe as any first world country. In fact she was overwhelmed with hospitality, friendliness and the helpful nature of the people. During her visit we took a “day” trip to Chile. She wanted to try their famous fish and get another stamp on her passport and we needed to renew ours. It was a trip! The border crossing, not speaking Spanish and me being the translator. Talk about pressure. We drove through Chile looking for the perfect place to eat fish and drink Chilean white wine. We ended up driving all day to Puerto Montt. Forgetting the hours of businesses we thought we were out of luck. In South America most hours of operation generally run from 8 am to 12 or 2pm closed until 6pm or 8pm then open until 12am or 2am. We arrived ready to eat around 4pm. Uh oh! Hungry, tired and with full bladders we stop at a lit neon sign reading “Bar”. Right on the Gulf of Ancud. This looked like a nice restaurant with just the bar open, hence the neon. I, being the interpreter, go to the entrance to inquire about food. A gentle eyed woman standing to the bottom of my breast (I am 6ft) was on her way out as I opened the door. She was leaving with mail in her hands. “Habla Ingles?” was usually my first question. “un poco,” she responds. I continue to ask in my broken Spanish about eating and she in her broken English tells me they are not open yet. So I ask if any restaurant was open and she said not until 8pm. So I ask if we can use the restroom. She smiles and graciously shows me the way as I signal to my mom and Gil that can relieve ourselves. I had explained to her our journey from Bariloche and before I knew it she was asking us what we wanted to eat. “Fish.” My mom said. After telling her we could no impose she got her cleaning lady to help her in closed, un staffed kitchen to cook us fish and potatoes. She even asked how we wanted them cooked. And yes, she selected the perfect white wine to complement the meal. As we ate she stood around us. Our diner music was the enchanting conversation between a compassionate Chilean and 4 Americans. Our spanglish was amusing and beautiful. A perfect stranger had opened her restaurant and her heart to 4 foreign strangers. This kind of kindness had never been shown to us in States. If you are ever in Puerto Montt, Chile please treat yourself to a meal or a drink or both at Cantaluna. www.cantaluna.cl/ . I can’t recall her exact name. Something like “Fresia” we have misplaced her card. But if she’s there say “hola” for us. . So we head back north to the border. Moving along we got off this major “interstate” to retract are steps. At this point it’s dark and we’re lost. Getting nowhere fast and Indigo is asleep and we’re running out of gas and we don’t have any Chilean cash. So we flag down a stranger. I do my best to ask him how to get to where we need to go. After about 5 minuets I finally find the right Spanish words and he understands. He motions to follow him. He crosses the heavily trafficked street to his car. We manage to keep up and are in the right direction now. We honk and wave our thanks. Another taste of true “southern” hospitality. I have seen many foreigners mistreated in the U.S. And usually ignored so it was so great to be shown such kindness. Earlier I had mentioned “day” trip because that was the plan. Seeing as my mom had a morning flight to Buenos Aires. Keep in mind when crossing borders that they have hours. We were unknowingly an hour late. So we had to drive back and find a place to sleep for 6 hours until they opened their gates. It was all worth it. |
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