When I woke up around 9, I peered out the window and discovered we were in the dusty desert near Atacama. We were served breakfast of raspberry juice and manjar biscuit. I tried the bus toilet and after pulling at the door for a while it opened. It was dark inside and I couldn't find the light switch so I just fumbled around in the dark for 10 minutes eventually I found the light switch by this time the steward was at the door asking what I was doing! I had to tell him I couldn't find the light switch. He just looked at me with a pitiful expression. The land in the north of Chile is so barren it's unreal. The sun is unforgiving and the land is parched. However there are lots of minerals beneath the ground which are responsible for Chile's wealth. The place is full of mines up here. We were served lunch of surprise, surprise chicken and rice. We carried on through the desolate moon like land and after a few steep mountains and scarey roads we reached Arica. I had an empanada and bought some water etc. I was sitting eating when my bus just drove off. I was stunned! I ran after it round the station where it stopped at a petrol station. They could have told me or maybe they had done but I didn't understand. I was really pissed off as I got into quite a panic thinking my bus had driven off into the sunset without me. Moreover, they drove back round from the petrol station 45 minutes later by which time most of the other passengers were getting anxious as they thought the bus had left us. Getting a plane direct to Cusco from Santiago seems like a good idea now. I exchanged my Chilean pesos for Peruvian sols and got on board the bus. We drove to the border between Chile and Peru. It was nearing 1am and we all got out the bus to pass throught the Chilean border gates, I hand over my passport and tourist card. We then had to wait 30 minutes for everyone to go through. I chatted to an indigenous Peruvian woman and a mother from Lima whose kids were running around energetically wanting me to play with them. They were curious about Scotland and asked me lots of questions. For example, was it cold, kilts, Loch Ness monster and whisky amongst other things. We then drove the short distance to the Peruvian border and queued to cross the border. When I handed over my passport and application to the female customs officer she stared for a while then said "abogado y soltero no porque?" She couldn't believe I was a lawyer and still single, she then pointed to her attractive female assistant and said "she will marry you!" So I've had my first marriage proposal in South America! We then cross the border and hang around in a dodgy area with Peruvian vendors selling fake watches, clothes and necklaces. We get back on the bus and the vendors come on and try to sell us stuff until we reach Tacna where they all get off. I was a bit annoyed with the bus driver for letting them on. We drive on through the night and eventually after moving around in my seat I find the right sleeping position and I'm out for the count. BEST BITS OF CHILE BBQ's in the sunny garden of La Casa Roja; great steak. Climbing San Cristobal Hill and the great views. Checking out all the great museums with Inca, Mayan and Mapuche artefacts. My Spanish lessons with Jesus who was a great laugh and taught me plenty slang! Relaxing and eating out in the bohemian quarter of Barrio Brasil. Sitting in hot springs drinking wine looking up at the stars in Pucon. Climbing the 2,500ft Villarica Volcano and then sliding down the ice crust! Drinking pisco sours and dancing in Bellavista clubs and bars. My Pachamama tour; great guide and everyone on board were fantastic people apart from: Ozzie couple and the weird Kiwi guy. Walking around the UNESCO Heritage city of Valparaiso. Visiting the General Cemetery in Santiago, a very interesting place! Trying the great, cheap seafood in the south of Chile. The Saltos de Lajo waterfall and wineries. WORST BITS OF CHILE It's expensive especially compared to Peru and Bolivia. Getting ripped off by taxi driver when I'd just arrived. I'm still bitter about that! German psycho murderer in my dorm at La Casa Roja. The smog which hurts your throat and eyes. Also prevents you seeing the Andes range sometimes. Bad pork experience in Puchilemu that has put me off pork for a while. Nearly missing my bus to Peru twice! Bridget's veg lasagne (less said the better) Avenida Suecia bar area(a poor man's Faliraki- really bad)