Santiago, First Impressions

After a nice lunch with Kelly at the airport, in which we caught up and discussed the ups and downs of the music business, we boarded our plane to Dallas. Nothing could have ever prepared me for who was on the flight for Santiago though. As I was walking down the aisle to me seat, I saw Carmelo de los Santos, the UNM violin professor. "Que estas haciendo?" "Playing a concert in Santiago!" "Where?" "Universidad Mayor!" AAAHHHH!!!
Thanks guardian angel, you once again have proven you've got my back. I really am supposed to be here doing what I am doing. Carmelo and I sat together and talked the whole way. I have always respected him, and the fact that we are only a year apart has always been comforting to me. We connected on a level that only such a happenstance could have allowed.
Kelly and I spent the rest of today walking around Santiago, getting to know the place. We visited Santa Luica (the birth place of the city), Bella Vista(the main live music district) and rode the subway. The parks are clean, and so are the streets. Much cleaner than Buenos Aires. My fear of pollution has been subsided. My throat has been raw from the trash fires, though. The smell brings me back to Jamacia. It is foggy here, and I have yet to really see the Andes, though I can feel them looming.
Tomorrow I hope find the school and get my hands on a bass. Carmelo seems to think he can get me in there even though it is a holiday. I will meet more of Kelly's friends tonight, a bass player and a band on his label. I've already hung a little with his manager Ignacio (whose uncle owns the hotel we are staying at). The hotel is my father's dream. Made of wood and has a mast and sail coming out the front. All the doors have circular windows and the Helm is located in the Restaurant. Mermaids and Ships fill the lobby. El Hotel Cap Ducal is our vessel setting sail over Santiago. Dad, you would never leave. I have a good feeling so far, flamenco, jazz, and salsa, as well as classical music are very present and alive. German speakers are here as well, they even have their own TV station. The architecture is very German as well. Alpacas are the streets. all for now.