World Chile Antofagasta Antofagasta

Born To Travel's Big Trip

Antofagasta - fitba day Apr 6, 2008

After a bit of struggling with Chilean airline websites and client services (the latter only because there was no-one available to speak English), I set off for the much awaited tie between Antofagasta and Universidad de Chile. Regarding client services however of Sky Airline, the lady on the other end of the phone just needed a bit of confidence and then I got her to speak English. Winner! It still took 20 minutes to sort out my flight mind you and that´s after about 30 mins with the site knocking me back. As well as Spanish I really must learn my alphas and tangos to get my name spelt correctly!!!

Anyway we were doing just fine until it was email time. Try describing an underscore when you have no Spanish to do it. Eventually it was rather easy as the word for line is the same as in French. If in doubt guess the french equivalent but just make sure you pronounce all the letters. Easy! Just needed to get the under (score) bit which took another few minutes. Finally got it sorted so it´s a 2 hour flight for me tomorrow and not 20 hours on a bus which was the alternative. Close though as the conversation could have ended after she said she didn´t speak English! I have hung the phone up so many times thanking them for their time:)) Also, to all those guys and gals earning loads from the internet, try and just get it to work will you!!!! I would resort to Billy Connolly again but hey what´s the use - missing my Billy Connolly DVD collection you can tell. Whilst I have found many times to have a conversation in English here it´s just not the same but then that´s the idea right. Sometimes though a right old blast of sweary words goes down a treat though:)))

Anyway off I popped onto the local bus using the Spanish, I have learned, to ask the driver if I was on the right bus for La Cancha. ( You have to be very careful with this word in Spanish I believe). Was in the stadium about an hour before the start and the fans were already in full song. Amazing energy to keep going the whole game. Before I got in btw the police searched everyone and everything, man-bags the lot. I saw all sorts of things being offloaded into bins. Rather stringent. Not sure why as everyone was sitting together where I was, no trouble not even any raised voices. Everyone just seems to get on here. It´s like what´s the point it´s too hot anyway. But seriously, no booze was anywhere to be seen even although there was a large supermarket next to the ground. Everyone was on juice or water and the only issue was the length of their flagpoles which the polis didn´t like much. All was handled very well. The guy who searched me even said "Thank you". Good show from the Chilean plod.

Took me a while to work out which fans were supporting who or if everyone were supporting both teams as various people around me were clapping both teams. Thought I sussed it but got a confirmation from my neighbour. Yup all the fans were mixed in my area. Highly confusing as you can imagine a boy growing up experiencing Rangers Celtic matches. I was just peeved because I hadn´t worn my flip flops in case of being trodden on:)) That would require too much effort for this lot. Great way too watch football. Is there enough passion however on show? Amongst the players yes as they put themselves about for the full 90 minutes no mistake but the fans watching do things differently here. It´s a day out that they seem to enjoy whatever. Could be different if it was a Santiago derby I would say but today it was a pleasure to watch in the 30 degree heat and be given a good game too with the home team snatching a late winner.

One bizarre incident was that the home side mascot got sent to the stand - no idea why but funny none the less. Good idea I thought by the ref as the mascot had much more contact then with the young fans as of course cameras were out everywhere.

At the end of the game some old boy with milk bottle specks came out with a loudspeaker playing a police siren waving goodbye to the opposition fans. It was hilarious if you could have seen this guy with his milk bottle specks. Seemed a bit of a waste of time as I think a lot of the "away" support came from Antofagasta as far as I could see.

Well I am now all packed and ready for the off from Antofagasta. Pick-up for the mine is 7.30am tomorrow. Interestingly enough (well maybe only for Anglo folk),the mine I am going to see is a sponsor at the stadium I was at today.

Next time I write I will probably have lost a day of my life as I cross the date line. Either that or it´s a hell of a long flight to Auckland!

Overall, Chile has been awe inspiring but I think I have only scratched the surface even although I have travelled over a lot (of its surface):) Time has gone so quickly it´s almost scary. I think I enjoyed Argentina more (which surprises me as Chile was a main destination to visit on my trip) but I probably only scratched the surface there too. Will have to let it all settle in before making a call on that though if I need to which I doubt. Both are great countries. I say come to both for much longer than I did. This continent gets under your skin and I´ve only been here for 6 weeks.

Ciao South America it´s been mighty fine!