22.2. We wake up early. Quickly, everything is loaded into the Jeep. We say goodbye to our nice hosts at Don Quijote, Xavier and his cook, and then drive to the ferry port. Although we are almost an hour and a half early, the parking loop in front of the ship is already full. However, loading starts not much later and we are soon sitting in our seats. After breakfast consisting of coffee and cake, we read or play a mobile game. After about 4 hours and 30 minutes, our ferry arrives in Quellon on Chiloe Island. We have completed the first part of our long journey. Now we have to drive through Chiloe and take the last ferry to the mainland at Ancud. Everything goes smoothly and the journey to Puerto Montt can continue. Once we arrive there, we quickly check into our hostel and go to the city for dinner. We are tired from driving a lot, but not enough energy to walk for another 30 minutes. Tomorrow is the second part of our journey.
23.2. After a warm shower, our first stop takes us to a lab: we need another antigen test. This time it goes quickly and after 20 minutes of waiting, we already receive the positive negative result! We have breakfast at a cafe in a supermarket, just like a Migros restaurant. Then we take our Jeep to the car wash. After the car is sparkling clean inside and out, we look for a cafe or restaurant to spend the last few hours of downtime before our flight. Unfortunately, we can't find one and decide to wait at the airport - no stress today, please... In the afternoon, Giordi comes to the airport and Roman arranges the handover of the rental car with him. Everything went well except for a minor glass damage. The flight to Santiago is slightly delayed, but we think we have enough time to pick up the luggage and check it in again. I try to scout out where we need to go during the waiting time for the luggage. Unfortunately, I am not allowed to go back and Amelia has to pick up the luggage alone. When we check in, we meet an apprentice who takes forever. In addition, the airline has its own forms that we have to fill out. But we arrive at the gate on time. In Bogota, they tell us to pick up the luggage, but in Santiago, they said the luggage goes all the way to New Orleans. A bit confused, we try to figure out what's going on. A tourist reassures us that she has already checked it. In Houston, we have to pick up the luggage after all, as we have to go through customs in the USA. Once we check it in again, we wait for the last flight to New Orleans.
24.2. We can communicate with Eric via WhatsApp to let him know where he should pick us up at the airport. Unfortunately, my luggage got stuck in Houston, but it doesn't have any disadvantages except for an extra half hour of filling out forms, as we will be staying with Eric for about a week from now on and they will deliver my backpack there. The reunion is just wonderful! We understand each other instantly, just like three months ago, and we are looking forward to the next 8 days at his home. He briefly shows us the neighborhood and then we eat Crawfish Etouffee (a specialty of the area) and dance wildly through the kitchen and the house with Belgian beer specialties - it's just wonderful and cozy!
