Turistik Bus Tour

This morning, I awoke rather early, too early it was still dark! But, after a little while (and catching up on things thanks to the wonders of the internet) it started to get light outside... Here is the morning sun rising over the Andes from my hotel window...

Hotel view 6am, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

After a quick shower, to wake up more so than anything else as I was now getting tired agian, I went downstairs to get some breakfast. I had some ceral with chocolate milk, toast with bacon & scrambled eggs, toast with spanish salami & cheese & a coffee. I also had an apricot juice in there too! After breakfast, I returned to the room to get my things, and the room was re-made already!

My Room 1504, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I then headed off to see Santiago. After asking how to get into the city, downtown, I was off with map in hands and careful directions in my head. Trouble was, I was heading in the WRONG direction! She did point me the way, and I followed it, but I was running backwards! After nearly 30 mins of walking, I found an intersection of streets I could understand on the map, and headed off to the banks hole in the wall, to get some cash. Funny thing was, it was all in Spanish, and do you think I could understand a word of it?! I asked the security gaurd for some assistance, and he told me how to change it to English, phew! I then made my withdrawal, for what I thought would be enough, only to find out from the tellers inside, I had withdrawn $184 USD! I had heaps of cash!

After the explination of money from the bank, I was pointed in the right direction towards the Metro; Escuel A Militar! From here I was told it is 11 stops to get downtown, Moneda. Easy as, until I got my ticket and then had to work out HOW to get through the barriers, it was easier than I thought and will not make the same mistake tomorrow!

I got onto the Turistik Tour Bus, its one of those 'Hop on, Hop off' type of ones... It was also incredibly glary all day, with a lot of smog (from wood heaters maybe?), which made photography a little difficult, but these are what I got today...

Old Stataion, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Main Mall Santiago, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Presidential Palace, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Stone monument, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Steel books, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

River Crossing, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Roadside Tree, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Santiago Andes, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Nightmare communications, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Fountain Plaza de Armas, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Bicentenario 2010, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Constitucion Square (Parliment), originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Sorry for the amount of pictures, I will try and do a slideshow or a mosaic next time!!!

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Welcome to Santiago!!

Well, here I am... After a quick 2.5 hour flight to Auckland to refuel and then a long haul of 12 hours, I have arrived in Santiago. The flight was good, very good actually, even though the food, compared to recent travels in Emirates, was a bit 'light on'... Good, just could have been more!

I was told what to expect when departing Auckland, a very LONG takeoff roll, which was very much the case. It was more than a little bumpy as well as we crossed the bay and headed across the Pacific. The dinner service was delayed just over an hour until we got through the turbulance! I was also told that the approach into Santiago is quite special... Indeed it was as we took a northerly approach THROUGH a valley (snow capped Andes on the right, and another mountain range on my side). We did a quick left bank followed by a steep righthand bank which now saw us heading south and the Andes on my side. It was very glary, so I am sorry for the photos below...

Business LAN, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Economy Rear LAN, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Approach SCL, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I finally got something good about my British Passport. Had I have come into Chile on my Aussie one, I would have had to pay for an Arrival Visa of $64USD, but as Chile and the UK have reciprocity rights, this fee is waived! I passed through immigration within 15 minutes and I had a driver waiting for me outside, you know the guys holding a placard with YOUR name on it! Cool hey! It took us nearly 40 mins to get to the hotel and it was fairly interesting sights along the way. I was dead tired, didn't think to have camera with me, and got to the hotel, checked-in and had a quick 2 hour sleep!

After dinner, I got my internet working, photo's uploaded from camera and I am now about to head off to bed, I am beat!

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POLL: - Help with colour selection please!

I am about to change the colour scheme of the house... Something I/we wanted to do, and now I think is the time to do it... Also, as the painter suggested, to do it PRIOR to having the brickwork, repointed!

So here is the house now, in the classic Green & Cream scheme (which I detest!)

HOUSE 1, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HOUSE 1 Gabel Ends, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

HOUSE 1 Entrance, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Now here I offer you some different combinations of colour schemes, AND I want YOUR comments/suggestions, and to even discuss this amongst yourselves and debate which one I will choose (please?)!

OPTION 1

HOUSE 2, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

OPTION 2

HOUSE 3, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

NOTE: Brickwork will NOT be painted, so please refer to window frames, doors, facias etc).

OPTION 3

HOUSE 4, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

So, what will it be??? Let the discussions begin!!!

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Still remembering...

I went to the cemetery today, to place some flowers, sit and ponder, remember even, but I thought I would share with you some photo's I took. At first, I thought I was 'strange' doing this, but from the perspective that some of you are no where near here, I thought, I am not being so strange after all... It really is SUCH a nicely landscaped area!

When I got there, there was a flock of Galah's searching through the turf, trying to find some seeds or something to eat:

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

This is the view across the little roadway to the lawn area:

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

And then from where she is:

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Now, here she is... The headstone was put up the day I arrived home from England in May and the plaque (and a photo) will be there in about 6-7 weeks:

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Here is the seat that I sit on, as it is close, I can she her, I can rest, look, think and ponder about things...

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

On my way out, I went past a couple of other really nice areas, the Mum 'n' Bub Lawn and the River Gum Reserve, both as nice as each other...

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Visiting Lou, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Looking forward to a nicer day tomorrow, a better nights sleep, and hopefully, the weather plays nice and does NOT rain!

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Remembering a life lost to soon...

Today, mark's 3 months when my world came crashing down...

3 month's ago, I lost my love, my partner my life. But in the 3 months since, I have had to come to terms with so many emotions I never thought I would have to until I was old and grey...

But, in remembering the good things in life, and putting these down on paper... well, will a blog do?, I will remember for a long time to come.

When looking through the photo's I have, I came across this one that was taken on a trip Nth, to Brisbane, to look after the nephews for a couple of weeks. It was only now, that I see WHY this is so important... The number 15 that M is holding, it is the day that it all came crashing down in April...

Louise, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Here we remember our first trip to New Zealand, in the cable car (gondola) to the top of Rotorua. This was such a great trip, as it really was our first REAL holiday. Not a trip that was combined with a conference or a meeting of some sort for either one of us.

Louise, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

And lastly, remembering some of the things the was enjoyable... Macc still misses his momma. He knew his place in the pack; there was me at the top, and then him and it was up to him to protect his momma. He did this on a couple of occasions as well!

Louise, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

It is now just over a week until I head off, overseas again, and this trip has been 4 years in the making. I am really looking forward to it, the conference, and I have added in a few extra destinations as well. After Chile, I am then off to Spain for a couple of days, the UK for about a week (and maybe a trip across the pond to Paris) before heading back to the real world called home. I can't wait to tell you of my travels.

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Please, do NOT hide your stuff!!!!

OK, I know it's a bit of an 'odd' title, but this has been, and still is, bugging the heck out of me! We all know that we don't want a burglar to take all of our precious things... BUT, hiding them ALL over the house is just wrong! Since that fateful day back in April, I have been trying to find 'L's iPod, all to no avail. I have looked in the strangest places trying to find it, and finally yesterday, I found it!!!! Now I am not going to say where it was (I think it is a good hiding spot, and just stupid) as I don't want the burglar to find it!!

Also, after a very sleepless night the night before last, I made a decision to get a good nights sleep last night... So, with camera in hand, I went into Sydney's Hyde Park to get a few snaps:

Hyde Park Sitting, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Hyde Park Fountain, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Baby Possum, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Baby Possum, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I then headed over to Fleet Steps to get a couple more of the Skyline and the Sydney Opera House:

Sydney Opera House, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

Sydney Night Time Skyline, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

I hope you enjoyed these shots. After taking them, I then headed down to a Sydney 'Nightlife' institution, 'Harry's Cafe de Wheels' for a pie, Chicken with cheese and tomato sauces... YUMM!

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A few visits...

On Saturday, I was on my way into Darling Harbour to a trade show for photographers and the like (seen many times in adds on TV, heard on the radio, so it had to be good...) and I was glad that I registered and got free entry! I called into A&S on the way to see if they wanted to come along as well. After a couple of hours (A had a 'hang-over') of hanging with the kids, and lunch, we headed in. NOT to mention, I decided to do this rather than attend to the forgotten garden, as rain was forecast. TIP: NEVER rely on the weather forecasters, it didn't rain!

Sunday, I went to the Cemetery to visit L. Nothing much has changed there, it is still a very peaceful location and all you can hear is the creek running a mere couple of meters away... The wording for her plaque is finished, all I have to do is send it to them to have it cast and installed. We have also decided in placing a photo of her as well. This will take some 6-8 weeks as it has to go to Italy to get done!

Today, I went and visited my friend, F, and her daughter in hospital. Poor little 2yo T is in as they try to clear a blockage... She has been in a fair bit of pain, understandably, for a while, and it was picked up in a sleep study done a few months ago. She was blocked up all the way through her bowel, colon and through her intestines! Any wonder she was in pain! They were admitted LAST Monday, with a 'probable discharge by Thursday. Well, now it is 'hopefully tomorrow', but lets wait and see...

SO, tomorrow WILL be a day of catching up on the garden, at least, I hope so!

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A short trip to Melb & more travels afoot...

I have been meaning to post about my recent trip to Melbourne for the Awards where 'L' (and her work) were nominated for her Annual Report! Whilst they did not win, they got two Silver Awards though and lost to the overall winner on the night! It was a fabulous night all the same! Whilst I was 'down south' I got to go out to St Kilda, caught a few good shots, shopped along Acland St (well know for it's bakeries... YUMM!) and visited Uncle P & K!

St Kilda Jetty, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

St Kilda Bench, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

There was even a fantastic 'Pirate Ship' too!!!

St Kilda Pirate Ship, originally uploaded by AussiePomm.

In other news, I finally finished organising my trip to the Turf Conference in Santiago today. It is going to be a much bigger trip than originally planned as I am now going to Auckland, Santiago, (12 nights), Madrid (5 nights), London (5 nights) and then home via Bangkok. I have sent across my registration details, and as it will be winter in Santiago, the Conference Tour I have booked myself onto, is up into the Andes Ski Fields!!! I can't wait to go, it is a mear 3 weeks away!!!

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