After another Tur Bus session we pulled into Copiapo on Wednesday 4th June 2008. Having no luck with Hostel World the lads arrived with no accommodation sorted. Having looked in their trusty Loneley Planet and agreeing that nothing looked decent let alone close the lads got themselves into the hotel Miramonti - a stones throw from the bus station. Now the Miramonti was a little full so the boys headed up town to another hotel only to be told they were also full. Feeling a bit out of luck and standing back outside with the Lonely Planet back out the hotel clerk came out to tell us we had a phone call. That's right. In Chile where no one knows who the bloody hell we are, at a hotel we've been in for 30 seconds , in a place we can barely pronounce but there's a phone call for us. James did the honours and low and behold it was he Miramonti telling us to come back! They had a room for us. Trawled the 3 blocks back to be informed they only had the Penthouse suite left. Well as we usually do roll like rock stars we got ourselves in there! The room was massive with a lounge, kitchin and a couple of bedrooms. Travelling is not all doom and gloom! Got ourselves settled before heading out to try and get our bus sorted for the following day. With our crafty Spanish, and the fact we were surrounded by a lot of annoyed Chilean's we found out the buses were striking for the rest of the day and the next. The lads just had to stay another night in the Penthouse! Cruised off into town for a look around before a cheeky beer and a hot dog. Then headed back to the pad! Bit of chilling before checking out the hotel restaurant. After a couple of stone cold lasagna's and a Pizza the lads decided they wouln't be eating there again! Back to the room for some late night film action and time for our best nights sleep in a long time!

Up at reasonable time on the Thursday for the complimentary hotel breakfast! Dangerous letting us boys at a buffet . As we had an extra day we decided to check out Bahia Inglesa - the Miami of Chile. Jumped into a taxi and at 3 pound each we cruised for an hour through the desert, stopping off at scenic points whilst the taxi driver took photos of us. Bargain! Pulled up beach side and told the taxi driver to pick us up in 4 hours! No worries! Nice beach - not quite Miami but tranquil. Got plenty of snaps before treating ourselves to a beach front meal. James went for a steady salad, Chris for the pasta number whilst Luke went for some stone called, sushi based Chilean speciality which had enough Lemon juice in it to sink a ship. Sharp! After some serious mincing in there and front row seats to a horrible dog fight we got ourselves back on the beach for some action snaps. After an hour of trying to get some jumping shots we were done! Pedro the taxi man was right on time and for another tenner he took us home! Cracking day out. Back at the penthouse we chilled for a bit and debated dinner. Headed off to the supermarket (not just to hang out with security guards) and splashed out big time. With our trolly packed to the rafters with such items as Vienetta, two cooked roast chickens, vieno, chocolate and more bread and mayonaise than an average man gets through in a life time we rocked upto the till to spend a staggering 20 sheets (this included all our food for tomorrow). Got back to the suite and popped down a little feast and some more film action. All a little bit tired we debated an early night as the bus was at half 8. Or so we thought. A quick check of the tickets and we soon realised we'd have to be up at half 5. Yikes! Quick pack and off to bed for our final night of luxury.

Friday morning it was up early. Too early for breakfast! Checked out of the hotel only to find our English confusing the night watchman and getting the bill 30 pounds cheaper than it should have been. These bloody criminals!! Whipped it round to the bus station and got in our front row, top deck seats to the desert! Es tiempo para la pornografía de imagen!!!