We have arrived!

After ~24 hours of flight, we are in Concepcion!  Big thanks to everyone who helped with our preparation and departure.  The views of the Andes were spectacular as we flew south to Concepcion.  The mountains rise directly out of an agricultural  plain dissected by large braided rivers.  Some glaciers extend down quite low.

Further south, farms give way to industrial forestry where roads criss-cross the coastal mountains.  This reminded me a lot of the north island of New Zealand.  

Just before landing, we flew over open water that was a beautiful shade of light blue juxtaposed against rocky points and sandy coves.  Small towns filled the spaces between hill and shore.

My host, Claudio was kind enough to meet us at the airport and help us settle in.  He even helped arrange transport of our nine 50-pound bags to the hotel.

In town the hills are lush and green and the trees in the city have taken on fall colors.  Everyone here wears warm winter clothes, but to me it still feels summery.  

Here on some views from a perspective apartment of campus.  In the end, wed decided that if we were going to live in an apartment, we wanted to live up high!

We are staying at a plush hotel downtown, Hotel Germania that has apartment like rooms (kitchen, 2 bedrooms, etc.) and a wonderful gourmet breakfast for ~$140/night.  Banking so far is easy with rapid access to cash ($400 per withdrawal).  

On our first night we dined on mussels, fresh bread, cheese and just-add-milk-and-water instant soups.  Both exhausted by travel and triggered by 6pm darkness, we went to bed early.  

Our goal for today is to get a feel for town and start the process of deciding on where to live.  We are now leaning toward unfurnished places as they are 2/3 the price and are more abundant.  I also came by the university and was let into a room with this sign on the door.  How appropriate for my sabbatical (and my spelling abilities). More to come.