Safe in Chile

I'm in La serena safe and sound, if a bit underslept. Not sure what I'm doing for dinner, Sunday in Chile means most everything is closed. Its winter here, but probably low 50's temp wise. I got asked about three dozen times about the Harry Potter book I was reading, there were four people on the plane reading it, including one would could have been melebeth's twin sister sitting in first class. As I boarded the plane I saw her rub her ands together and open the book, and start reading from page one. It ain't Shakespear, but I liked it.

1st night in Chile

I got to avoid the problem of trying to eat based on the limited amount of food in the observers kitchen, or tying to find something open on a Sunday in Chile when I don't speak spanish when one of the other visiting astronomers/engineers who was also bored spitless invited a few of the Gemini telescope staff over for dinner, and he let me graze off his larder. I had a couple of glasses of wine, so I'm doing the mating call of the sorority girl (I'm so drunk) and about to face plant. I was amused that all the women seemed to insist I kiss their cheek, which reminded me I don't remember the last time I saw a cheek kissed at home. At one point one of the engineers's cell phone went off due to a problem on the mountain (and with observing time valued at a few tens of dollars per minute they certainly page you), so he wandered off to the computer room to see if he could fix it. He was back in a very short time, and when he walked back in someone said something to him in Spanish, and he replied quickly with something I almost but not quite recognized. I turned to the engineer next to me an asked "did he just say it works better when plugged in?" whcih caused everyone to break out laughing since that is what he had said.