Waiting, Waiting, Waiting

Our itinerary said we should take the 12:30 catamaran across Lago Pehoe and then we would be picked up by a driver who would have all our luggage we had left at the Hotel Las Torres. So we had a whole morning to kill. We were all tired of hiking so we read, played bridge, played spades and napped. We waited.

The catamaran ride was short but when we arrived at the little loading area there was no one there to meet us.  The lady at the cafe spoke enough English that she was able to radio the hotel who then called the local travel agent who then got all the mess straightened out.  We waited.

Our driver came around 6:30 pm but did not come inside the cafe where we had again played cards, napped, and read while waiting.  When we got really tired of waiting, Jack walked around the parking lot and found our luggage in the back of the van.  We were all a bit miffed that the driver waited outside for he next catamaran, thinking we would be on it.

It was a long 5 hour drive to Punta Arenas.  After 3 1/2 hours we needed a baño (bathroom) but there was nothing open in the little town where he stopped at 10:30 at night.  The driver saw two women and a young girl walking and asked directions (we think as he spoke only Spanish).  They directed him to their home and invited us inside to use their toilet.  The young girl was so excited to have this happen in her home!  We tried to pay but they wouldn't accept anything and instead they gave Susanna a decorative coaster as a gift. What gracious, friendly people!

We got to our hotel at midnight.