Aconcagua & South America 2004

Quiet night last night, just a couple of beers, Up early this morning to catch the bus to Mendoza. It eventually left at 8.30 & I left with it, sporting my new hat I might add.
The bus left Santiago and within an hour we were starting to climb. For residents of Santiago these must be considered the Handy Andes.
The road reached its highest point at 3200m snow at the side of the road, although not much.
Great scenery I spent most of the bus journey looking out of the window. Passed over the border,which of course took ages, then down into Argentina. We passed through Punte des Incas which is where the trail head starts & I managed a short glance at the south face of Aconcagua. The really really annoying* thing is I have to travel 180K to Mendoza to buy a climbing pass for the Aconcagua park then travel 180K back again to start the trek. How bloody annoying* is that. Almost as annoying as forgetting how to spell annoying!!!!!(no spell chech here)
As its my first night in Argentina I am going to celebrate by having a special meal. My mouth is watering already, at the prospect of having a Fray Bentos Steak & Kidney pie, fresh from the tin. I'll expect to pay abit mind you as these delicacies* will only be served in the best restaurants.
It is very warm here 85+
I will by my pass tomorrow then do a shopping, porridge & stuff, then head on back to puntas des Incas on Monday.
Very well done Jamie on passing your test, do try not to crash into anything!
more tripe tomorrow.

Had a chinese meal last night & just as I was about to leave 3 studenty types came in,2 guys & a girl, sat at my table and began to use me to practice their english, they told me how poor they were & it was the girls birthday, and somehow I ended up paying for their meal. Which cost me with the beer over 15 quid, I must be daft, Today I made my way down the main drag in Santiago, which is called Ave.Liberator Bernard O´Higgins. A sort of 19th century Che Gevarre* but more successfull,(in future a * means an incorrect spelling of which I am aware, but do not know the correct spelling).. anyway..I was walking down the main drag, like Argyll St for instance, when I saw a shop the like of which I have never seen before! I stopped in amazement to look in the window, which contained nothing but ..............door knobs, of every shape & made of every known door knob material, I was mesmerised!! I eventually moved on, making no purchase incidently, unlike Bid who would likely have bought a couple of pairs. I went to the bus station & bought a ticket to Mendoza 8GBP & it leaves Sat at 8am. Wandered round Santiago taking in the sights before buying a new hat, very Indigo Jones & it suits me perfectly. Hope all are well & another update tomorrow Best of luck on your holiday tomorrow Cameron.

Arrived Santiago at 3pm Scottish time. Santiago is a mere 3 hours behind Glasgow so the time difference is not too much. I have booked into the hotel Londres in the centre of Santiago, and in costs only 7000pesos a night for a single room or 7 libres escocia, a bargain!! The journey was uneventfull and went very smoothly ( other than a beer costing $6.50 in charles de gaul airport)
sic.
So nothing to report. Tomorrow I will stay another day in Santiago and see the sights what ever they are!
The weather here is a slightly humid 78f so no need for anything more than a tee shirt.
Coming into Santiago the plane flew quite close to Aconcagua & as it was very clear I had a very good view of it, unfortunatly I stupidly left my camera in my rucksack which was in the hold so I could not take a photo. It looked quite snowy & quite.. er.. interesting! if I was looking at the right mountain.
Enought of this dreary stuff, I´m off for a beer !!