Time-wise, two hours were gained flying from SF to Dallas, accounting for crossing time zones: from Pacific to Mountain to Central. Another two hours on the clock was gained flying to Santiago, Chile. Though we lost body time and sleep on the overnight flight, it did include dinner and a continental breakfast.

Nighttime. Nothing to see out of the tinted window… until the sun came up over the Andes Mountains.

Protests turning into violence and destruction. We had planned to spend the day exploring Santiago by hopping on and off a city tour bus. Our timing was bad, however, as the city inhabitants began protesting fare increases in the subway system… which quickly turned into city-wide protests of inequalities in the economic system, like lack of pensions and hourly wages with no job security. The protests escalated into random destruction and violence. The military and riot police were called in, and curfews instituted. Apparently, Santiago was in chaos with no public transportation functioning, businesses, schools, and banks closed, and violence in the streets. We saw none of this, however, since it was recommended that we not explore Santiago at this time, but stay safe in our hotel across the street from the airport. Not exactly the cultural experience we had hoped for!