Geting out of the airport was pretty much a painless process. There is an info officer who speaks english located in baggage clam, who showed us where to get a transfer bus who dropped us at the door of the hostal which was a major bonus as we were pretty knackered after the flight.

Unfortunaly the room wasnt ready til 14.00 so we had to kill an hour playing pool and watchig two and a half men (they love it, its on everwhere???) Andes Hosal great location opposite Bella Vista tube and best room to date.

Have to say we were quite impressed with the hostal the fisrst time we have had an ensuite (afte La Paz i am refusing to stay anywhere were we dont have our own bathroom its just sooo wrong). We literaly both fell into bed and didnt wake up ill gone 8pm.

We decided to have a wonder around where we were staying as we needed a bank as we only had USD with us. Ater walking for about half an hour and three failed attempts to find an atm that would except my natwest card we finally had success. However stupidly we hadnt checked the exchange rate and didnt have a clue what value the money was we were taking out and ended up with something like 20 quid!

This would have been a bit imbarressing had Chile not been soo cheap, its ridiclous. As we hadnt a clue where we were going we ended up at some crappy little cafe on the corner of the road where we were staying and took a guess at what we were ordering (again spanish is limited but slowly improving) ended up with a cheese sandwhich and a milkshake (we thought we had ordered pizza!!.. oh well)

Also found a "olde pub" up the road and had a few beers and watched the stray dogs go by... there are thousands of dogs just raoming loose, its mental! most of them are worth a few bob as well, proper thorough breds, dalmations; dobermans; husky ones etc

We hit the sack again , though got little sleep as there was a busy bar/cafe below the window that went through till 2pm after which a load of yuths started skate boardin till god knows when, as i didnt know any abuse in Spanish, thought best to let them get on with it, as they apeared to be on here arses more than their feet anyway!

The next moring we got up about 10 and headed down stairs for our beaky which was included, which consisted off a cheese toasty, glass of orange jiuce and a bit of cake.

We decided as we were leaving the next moring to try and see the sites (and we had to find a new pair of shades for Steve as he had left them on the plane) God it was hot!!! it must have been well into the middle 30's. You were dripping after a few metres and i dont cope well with the heat, thought i was going to pass out at some points. We notde however that the locals were walking on the shady side of the street and quickly followed suite.

Santiago is lovely, think Madrid, but with palm trees and 30 degree heat. We walked down into the central square which turned out to be only two blocks from where we were staying (wihch makes a change cos we normally end up miles from anywhere and up the top of a hill!)

There were major protests going on, but they certainly now how to march in Chile! Its like a big party, they have dums and trumpets; sound systems, flags and just dance around and drink!! It great. this one guy (see photo) was on top of a monument and stopped wavin his flag for me so i could take a picture, and then just started again!

Most of he city has some lovely achitecture and of cause the cathdreals/ churches are just amazing, but there isnt atually much to do apart from walk. We eventually found the shopping area and after much pigeon spanish, hand jesturing and blank looks (mostly on behalf of the shop assitants) we bought some shades for Steve.

At this point it was about 3pm and i'd had enough the heat was just unbearable and i was tired, dehydrated and grumpy, so we went back for a siesta. We probably didnt do the city justice but the heat...

After the disater which dinner the night before we decided to look through lonely planet and find somewhere decent for dinner. We ended up walking to the small area N or the centre, which was full of small bars and cafe's tucked down side streets.

We never fuond where we were lookig for but had walked past a few places that looked ok so plonked ourselves down in one. I had thought to bring the spanish book wth us and after about 10 mins realised that the place we were in, again only did sandwichs (later realised this is because in Chile you eat at lunch and only have light snack in the evenng, plse note if u ever go!)

We decided to have a few beers and the go fnd somwhere else. We got talking to this guy who was an astro physiscist who does research in Southampton and his family and the shared their bottle of wine with us. M&D you going to be shocked but as i didn want to offend i drank the red wine he gave me and it was nice!!! may be converted yet!!

We wondered back the way we had come and decided to splurge at this really swanky place (had a maitre de on the door) but realised we didnt have enough money, so asked him if we could just have a drink, he showed us this other doorway which led to an upstairs bar. It was posh... you might as well have been in London, all the rich and beautiful abounded. We found two seats at the bar (it was heaving) and ordered two cocktails i had a Kir royal and Steve had the best mojito he has ever had! (it did have 7yr old rum in it so i'm not suprised)

We decided then that we would eat downstairs but didnt have enough cash with us (we were still on the 20 quid believe it or not!!) so went for another wonder for a ATM (took us 20 mins to find one again)

The meal was silver service Steve had Steak and i had Partdrige with Foi gras and Crepes which they made at the table, this with an excellant bottle of Chilean white, came to just over 30 quid!

By the time we got back to the room it was past 1 and as we were leaving for the airport at 4 i decided not to bother going to bed (big mistake) Steve got a few hours whilst i watched a film and packed.

We got to the airport early as the cab came early and there was nothing on the road (apart from packs of dogs) which turned out to be a good thing as the flight had changed and was leaving 30mins earlier. We checked in and headed to dunkin donuts for something to drink (it was the only thing open) and i have to say its the best smoothy i have ever had!!

For some reason they had seated us on the plane 5 rows apart and we couldnt change at a check in as they said the plane was full, (it wasnt the seat next to me was empty all the way) We also didn know that it stopped at Iquitito a mining town on the Bolivian border after 4 hrs and there was a passport check and passengers got off and on. Needless to say we didt get any sleep (i might have got 30mins) so were totally knackered when we got to La Paz airport and have been suferring with altitude sickness and jet lag (we are only 4 hrs behind uk now) for nearly a week.