Again, not what Santiago looks like. I've been rubbish with photos but you can always have a look on www.ringo.com (if you can find me) for the real thing.

Santiago has been a LOT of fun. We stayed at Bellavista Hostel (don't go anywhere else) and have had a few days of debauchery. We've met up with Wolfie and Tony, made new friends, and just enjoyed ourselves.

After sleeping for most of the day having arrived from Arica (phew!) Wolfie woke us up, hauled us out of bed and marched us to his local supermarket where we bought up for a bbq and had a great night on the vino tinto, and another 4am crash. The next day Tony arrived and after a brunch catch-up (and no sign of Wolfie) I dragged them up Cerro Santa Lucia to the statue of the Virgin Mary at the top. OK I will admit it was a HOT day and 2pm isn't the best time to go walking up very unshaded hills, but it was a good tramp and very worth it (in my opinion!), if for the satisfaction, the first drink of water at the top and the feeling of deserving the funicular back down if for no other reason! Caro might not agree...

That night was messy, as it was Caro's last night and what she said went. So the G&Ts started flowing at about 5, and we didn't managed to leave Bellavista terrace for supper until about 12, by which point we'd managed to pick up 4 Americans and a Swiss guy and roped them into the Argentina-style-drinking-reunion. After a hard-to-remember supper (whether because of quality or quantity of alcohol I do not know) we headed back to Bellavista - and as I stumbled to bed around 3 the others were still happily boozing away. I have no idea where that stamina comes from.

So the next day was fairly quiet, a late start and a Thai lunch followed by little else as the hours left of Caroline's travels dwindled. Eventually the time came, and she jumped into her airport transfer and headed off into the sunset as Wolfie, Tony and I waved from the kerb. It was a strange moment - no doubt more so for Caro than me as she's ending her travels, but cannot wait to get home for Christmas. But now it's just me and for the next 6 months I'm making my own way. Exciting stuff.

We had another BBQ at Wolfie's that night, drinking memory-inducing caipirinhas and welcoming in his birthday. A good night. And I was VERY proud of my barbie. Then all of a sudden it was my last day - a day in sunny cafes, wandering around plazas and drinking Chilean melon-and-wine cocktails at Bellavista, that has left me a little worse for wear but thoroughly looking forward to my long overnight flight to the Antipodes...

So the next update will be from Christmas time Down Under. Hopefully it's only "hasta luego" to South America - there's too much left to see.