Holiday Inn Santiago Airport

Well we're here - it was a bit hard to come to terms with getting off the plane in Santiago at 1.00pm on Thursday when my watch was telling me it was really 3.00am Friday- that's going to be difficult to explain to the body clock! So far so good - we had a complimentary Qantas club pass to use - so we made use of the open bar and cheese platter in Auckland - very nice! Anyway, we're off to get some dinner now - and then back to bed ready for our early morning flight to Lima and then Cusco.  W...

Early morning check in proves a revelation and I heartily congratulate myself on a job well done with my packing. I have managed to squeeze a years worth of travelling paraphanalia into a rucksack weighing in at only 18kg. Some might quaff at that but you have to compare it to my recent 3 night/ 4 day sojourn to Byron where my bag weighed in at a heavy weight 14kg. Nice work Helen!! Then I fall to earth with a bump, and reality well and truly bites me on the bum as Shazza leaves me at the gat...

Our flying visit to Santiago lasted about 3 hours int he airport between flights. We made good use of time by getting a dunkin donuts meal combo- good local food.

We have left behind the glorious countryside and come to the coast to the west of Santiago. This area is popular with Chileans and Argentinians as a holiday destination. Not at all as we had imagined. After the peace of the agricultural areas we are now in built-up towns. The coastline has miles and miles of high rises built into the steep hills. There is so much construction going on; it is a booming area. How they build into the sides of the steep hills is a mystery. I think that ocean view...

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My Easter Island adventure is over too soon. But there is one last hurrah... My phome alarm is set for 6am but I am eager and awake 10 minutes beforehand. Five of scurry around the hostel with torches and make for Mahina´s rented 4x4. We are drivinbg to Tongariki, the 15 moai, to watch the sunrise. 40 minutes later we are waiting in anticipation, along with a scattering of other tourists. The sunrise isn´t the best, the aspect and orientation is not generous with the sun actually rising behin...

Ara si que les nostresw aventures arriben al final. Avui ens llevem tard, l'asado comunitari no es va allargar gaire, fins a la una... tot i que jo l'hagués allargat una mica més. 4 hores en cotxe fins a Antofagasta per arribar-hi a l'hora de dinar... tot tancat, inclosos restaurants... tot i que al final ho hem pogut fer en uns grans magatzems (tipus Baricentro), on només hi havia oberts els fast-food. Volteta pel centre per fer temps, desert, tothom fent l'asado de les "Fiestas Patrias" i c...