I wrote an original text in Japanese in 1998. This is a translation in English. ===============================================
December 18th, 1997
I arrived in Santiago on the red-eye flight. I left “Arukikata” (Japanese Guidebook) Peru edition and “Executive Orders” Vol.1 by Tom Clancy at the inn yesterday. Regarding Vol.2, I left it at Monte Carlo Hotel in Punta Arenas. My first impression was when I landed at the airport Arturo Merino Benitez in the early morning, as it is cold. Why is it so cold? El Nino?
The room became ready and I carried the luggage. it’s a US $ 35 room with a private shower. It is a little expensive. I can enjoy the chirping of birds and the courtyard with beautiful flowers. I recommend it to those who like that sort of thing. I asked her if there is a place to wash my clothes, then she said I should go to a laundry shop. A cleaning is cheap because it is fixed price, 2,000 pesos per cleaning even though how many clothes I take to the shop. I got taught the mystery spell, “lavado y secado”, which means “washing and drying”. “Hmm, lavado y secado, lavado y secado, …” I decided to the town center first, then go to a laundry shop. First, I went to an AMEX office. Many dirty travelers who are odd with a fine office have come. When I went to the AMEX office, they made a queue. Why did they come here? Because at this AMEX office, travelers can exchange their AMEX travelers’ checks for US dollars. If you want the Chilean pesos, the rate from the US dollar is good. It is very grateful that we can get US dollar cash in the land of South America. Has no meaning traveler’s checks if I exchange them with a large amount of cash, but I will use more and more US dollars while I go around the south of Chile, so I cashed the US $ 500. As the Sun rose higher, it became hotter and hotter. The street at Centro where the vehicles are shut out for pedestrians is very crowded. It seems to have come to the Christmas shopping. I found many people eat a mountain of ice cream while walking. I also tried. There is various Ice cream at the shop but I do not know which is which. I choose Chirimoya ice cream. It is super-heaping. It seems that everyone loves ice cream. I decided to take lunch at the Central Market. I was looking forward to it. When I went backside to the market, I found some restaurants. Men and women there said to me, “Uni!, Sakana!” (“Sea urchin!, Fish!”). I entered a small restaurant and looked for something from the list on the wall. “Paila Marina”, it seemed good, I decided to ask this. The thing that came out is what should be called seafood soup, yeah, it was very delicious. There is also something similar called “Sopa Mariscos”, I did not know where how different. It was 1900 pesos. I found a sea urchin, but it is 3000 pesos and looks a bit expensive. It was pretty expensive at about 3000 pesos or 4000 pesos at shops elsewhere. I left the central market, then go to a great church to see inside and Lan Chile office to reconfirm my air ticket. When I returned to the hotel, I found that I forgot the mystery spell. Hmm, it may be OK without the spell. I went back to the hotel and I was looking for a laundry shop Monica said to me. It is easy to find, there is a price list at the entrance, and it says “Lavado … 1000, Secado … 1000”, I finally remembered the spell. “Lavado y secado, por favor” The spell was right. A man at the shop accepted. I forgot how did the conversation was, which I found to be coming to take Siete (7:00) anyway. I back to the hotel and slept. It was 10 pm when I woke up. I did not go to take my clothes eventually. I also didn’t have dinner.
チリもつもれば – 駐在者がおくるチリの生活情報