Hello lovely people: the fourth of my occasional blogs from Chile – Argentina – Chile

Santiago Part II, a departure and an arrival

A daytime nine and a half hour bus journey from Villarrica to Santiago passed pleasantly enough: comfy seats, our first full cama (!), a bit of reading, snoozing and listening, good views …. and a lot of trying to not watch/hear the back to back American action movies dubbed into Spanish played on the bus’ entertainment system for the entire journey🙈. Although as they were also played with Spanish subtitles we did try and learn a few new words!!

Back at the same hotel in Santiago we readied ourselves for a second walk around and evening of eating and drinking in the “barrio gastronomico” in Lastarria which we discovered last time and we were not disappointed: lively, buzzy, great pisco, food and wine, charming staff

With a last morning to explore the city we head for the much lauded barrio “Paris y Londres”. According to various sources a delightful quarter of early 20th century housing built around the Convento of San Francisco. We were, frankly, disappointed. Dilapidated, litter and graffiti strewn, little cared for there is evidence of charm although not a great deal. That said, the photos do not really show this and the quarter is still photogenic . . .

Packed up and off to the airport for the next phase of our adventure, we see Roberto and Alison several people ahead of us in the check-in queue, and we have been bumped onto their flight (slightly later than our booked one), so all the arrangements made when we were in opposite sides of the world work out perfectly. We catch up over a cuppa, and the flight is another one boasting spectacular views over the Andes

Buenos Aires here we come – for a week of feasting and festivities for Roberto’s 70th birthday in his home town

Until next time, adios amigos
ALISON