Arrivals (or Continuations!)

Well, this was a very different trip for me. I decided at the last minute to go (while at dinner - Maya's birthday party - with Pavlovsky's, and the Malaysians, and when Ruben offered a place to stay, transportation, etc). what the heck, so off to Chile!

John and I said goodbye at the Buenos Aires airport, he would head back to USA, and I would board a flight to Santiago. (we had just said hello again after he got back from Patagonia, and I returned from Uruguay!). Miguel and Celina are very gracious hosts - we stayed with them while bouncing back and forth to dental appointments in BA, getting a ride with Miguel, or his brother Santiago, or his son Maiko - all of whom work at the clinic (hematology, oncology) in BA. We enjoyed our time with them as always.

So off to Chile! first time to this long, thin, country and I didn't really know what to expect. I was met at the airport by the entire traveling troupe- the 11 from Malaysia (8 new riders plus Mahmood, Mat Din and Dr. 'Hanizi' Bashir (I can never get her name straight, the very sweet and lovely veterinarian travelling with the group). Plus Santiago and Hernan from Argentina who came to help Ruben, and Julio from Uruguay. And of course Ruben Parra - who was the master organizer of the Malaysian horse riding, qualifying, buying trek.

I've known Ruben from previous years - always a friendly face at the various rides around the world. He is making a living in the horse business - selling horses (jumping, endurance, etc), shipping and transporting horses, leasing, training, breeding. Horses are his life. Ruben was in the Chilean army for 14 years (he retired when he was going to be transferred to the north part of the country where he would have to give up horses and do tanks - no way). The only reason he joined the service in the first place was to learn about, and have a life with, horses. But after 14 years he decided to take a chance and start his own business.

Ruben also has half ownership in a recreational park - he bought an old farm several years ago in Talageta (I need to check the spelling on this), a town outside of Santiago, and he and his father invested time and money into building the Rancho. Picnic area, barbeque stands, petting zoo, horse and pony rides, swimming pools, it has become a very popular place for city people to come to spend a summer day in a country atmosphere. I met most of Ruben's family while here (I think so anyway... it's pretty big family) - his parents have been working in New York City for the past 20 years, working for wealthy individuals and families. Both are outgoing, hard working, latin warmth and quick smile, and their services (cooking, house management, driving, etc) are in great demand among the New York society people - they even worked for Leona Helmsley for ten years! I do love meeting people like this, whose lives are so different, people who I never would have met except for these strange travels and circumstances. Anyway, Ruben was my host, and it's always fun to meet people's families, see their homes, etc.

So Ruben had coordinated the entire three week trek for the Malaysians. Looking at horses in Argentina, travelling to Uruguay for the FEI ride and to look at more horses, then travelling to Chile for another FEI ride... and to look at more horses. Malaysia is very serious about Endurance. Mahmood said that yes, they have their eye on fielding a team of riders at the 2008 WEC, but they are also looking towards 2010, 2012, etc. They're in it for the long run it seems. And with the quiet persistence that these people have, no doubt they'll succeed.

We piled into a mini-van - luggage, bodies, Hernan driving the van. Plus Ruben's SUV loaded with more bodies, more luggage, and headed west towards the coast. The race was go be held near the port city of San Antonio (Chile's major ocean port) , at the Fundo Las Brisas (fundo is the Chilean word for ranch, or estancia in Argentina).

It was a pretty drive - the green flat valley of Santiago, with looming snow capped mountains to the West, giving way to rolling country as we neared the coast. Ruben had rented apartments at the Las Brisas Condominiums - summer resort, golf course, private summer homes, very nice, a little upper crust. Two apartments for the Malaysians and I would stay with the guys! I did get the best room... Everybody dropped off their luggage, moved into their rooms (common kitchen, living and dining rooms and sun porch), and then met again for a trip to the supermarket in San Antonio.

We'd be doing most of our own cooking, and the Malaysians were hoping to buy more familiar foods at a big store (rice, fish, ramen). We got a little lost trying to find the supermarket and arrived just as they were closing. So no problemo, no hesitation, quick reversal, back up a now very familiar street, and stopped at tiny little mini market. one little room, a few shelves, and not a lot of selection, but everybody was hungry and grabbed enough items to get by for the night and next morning and back to the condominium for dinner and bed. It was pretty funny with everybody crowding into the little mini-market. In great spirits though, full of enthusiasm and adventure for the ride to come.

I was starting to realize that Chile was a little chilly.... I didn't bring a lot of warm clothes, but as it got dark, and the fog rolled in it got colder and colder. Next time I'll know, but for this time I would just have to layer all the clothes I brought and try to stay warm!

Quick dinner (chorizo, bread, un poco vino tinto) and then off to bed. We'd all go out to the venue tomorrow, to figure out where everything was, test horses, etc.

-more later-

Steph