A Pleasant Trip & Views from Talcahuano By Leah Katherine Saal

A Pleasant Trip & Views from  Talcahuano

By Leah Katherine Saal

- Traveling to South America for Deanna and I was as pleasant as can be.  Our legs from Houston to Miami and Miami to Santiago were very uneventful, which are always the best flights. Along the way, we were helped by some very nice people who took great care of us.  Ms. Rita, at the American Airlines counter in Houston, changed our tickets so we could sit together in flight.  Chris, our sky concierge in Santiago, not only assisted us with finding our way around the airport, but was also able to get us on an earlier flight out of Santiago to Concepcion!  After a short 1 hour flight, we landed in Concepcion, where we checked in for one night at the Hotel Ibis.  After being treated to a wonderful steak dinner last night (as Kenny and M. Denny mentioned), Deanna and I retired to our hotel to rest for the night in anticipation of meeting our families today.  This morning at our hotel, we had succulent hot breakfast sandwiches filled with fresh salami, ham, and cheese as well as all the fresh fruit, croissants, oatmeal, eggs, etc. that a person could want.  At 1:00, we met our families at the airport.  I feel so very lucky to have been placed with the Pena family.  They told me today that they have been looking forward to hosting a US student for many years and recently (last week!) moved into a new house which finally afforded them the opportunity. They moved in a little early so that I can stay with them.

Cristina, Conne, Angie, Leah, and Sebastian at the lookout point

The view of the very dark Pacific and the port in Talcahuano

Hector, Cristina, and their three children (Conne, Sebastian, and Angela) have been wonderful hosts. They even took me, after afternoon snack and before dinner, to the highest point in the region in Talcahauno, so that I could snap pictures and get a feel for the topography.  It was beautiful. The pacific ocean meets the hills (although they look like mountains to this Louisianian) at a huge port.  The port is used by the military as well as industry and is nestled inside the crook of the coast.

Traveling outside of Concepcion proper, I was amazed by the huge industries here.  Both Hector and Cristina are engineers and were able to explain to me all of the exports as well as raw materials mined and refined here.  After seeing the immense industry and beautiful countryside as well as meeting such very gracious and helpful people, there is little wonder for me why Chile's economy is growing at 8% per year.