Says it all, with a few letters missing.

Never seen an 8 wheel bus before, I know I must get out more.

Semi sleeper double deck bus, wide comfy seats that recline about 45 degrees and have leg rests too.

Rain over the last few days must have swollen the river and dragged sand and debris across the road.

Just needs to point it in the right direction and we'll be ready for take off.

This is the wet season and barely a trickle in the river bed.

A lot of 60s & 70s architecture in the shopping district but very little newer.

Mercado Torso de Molina, must have looked so futuristic when it was built in the 70s.

The church of Niño Jesús de Praga, with its interesting spire.

Pushing a large pan of bubbling hot oil in a shopping trolley, down the street, as you do!

Some lovely ornate architecture in the shopping district.

An area built in the early 20th century, in the style of New York architecture of the time.

A little outdoor bar where we had a Chilean pisco sour.

La Casa De La Moneda, the presidential palace.

Now that is a flag, in the gardens outside the presidential palace.

Not sure what sort of trouble they were expecting, but they looked ready for it.

Back Down To Sea Level

February 14 in Chile ⋅ 🌙 19 °C

This morning was our last coach trip, only 90 minutes back up to Calama, then a taxi to the airport for the plane to Santiago. We haven't flown for a week, starting to get withdrawal symptoms.

All our paperwork said it was a 13:40 flight so we arranged our travel on that basis. However, when we got there it was a 12:40 flight, we couldn't get our heads round that one at all. Just grateful that we usually get to the airport in plenty of time in case of any eventualities and this was certainly one of thise.

Uber is illegal in Chile, yet it somehow still operates in the same way as in other countries. If caught by the police the driver would have his car confiscated. So in Santiago, one person has to ride in the front seat. If stopped I was the driver's uncle!

More mundanities ensured after check in, finding a laundry. With clothes dropped off for pick up tomorrow, we walked around the busy shopping area. A mix of older buildings and newer ones from the sixties and seventies.

We had some dinner, a sort of cottage pie with a crunchy topping that had lots of sugar on it, way too sweet for me. As we ate we watched street vendors who looked like meerkats on the look out for the authorities and once spotted they were off like a shot, only to return once the coast was clear. Reminded me of Del Boy with his suitcase down Peckham market.Read more