Pucon to Santiago

We were up and gone from the hostel by 5am to walk to the bus station for our 5.30 bus. It was just getting light but everywhere was quiet. We passed a black dog which was lying down. As we turned a corner two dogs started barking and wriggled under a fence to get at us. One was especially ferocious. As Martin was trying to get him away, round the corner came the black dog. He saw both of the dogs off and quietly escorted us to the terminal!

Martin confirmed with the conductor that we would be getting off the bus at Quepe where a taxi would be waiting. All seemed ok. We couldn't sleep as we had to be alert for the stop. After an hour and a half we estimated we would be right on time for the taxi. But at a bus stop about 10 minutes before Quepe the conductor came to us and rattled away in Spanish. It appeared that they would not stop the bus to allow us off in Quepe and we had to get off now. A lady tried to argue with the driver and explained a taxi was waiting for us but to no avail. The conductor had got our bags out of the bus so we had to get off. 

So there we were on the main Pan American highway with lorries thundering past, 6 km from the airport. We started walking. On the turnoff for the airport we started to hitchhike. The first 2 vehicles sped past but they were private transfer minibuses so no surprise there. Luckily the next vehicle was driven by an airport worker who kindly stopped and took us the rest of the way.  I have written to the bus company to complain as it was their employee in the Pucon terminal who told us to make these arrangements. 

There was still plenty of time before the short flight to Santiago so we spent the money saved from the taxi fare on coffees. On arrival we caught the stopping bus to the centre as we couldn't check in until 2. After I paid for our fares I stored the return tickets with our passports, stowed the change in my purse and thought I'd put my purse in my handbag. I was on a double seat with a handbag, a rucksack and a large man next to me and the rear wheel arch under my feet so it was a bit cramped. Just before we got up Martin picked up something from the floor behind my seat and said oh someone's dropped their purse. It was mine! I must have dropped it and it slid off the wheel arch to the floor behind me. How lucky - it had lots of cash, my cards and our railcard in it.

After lunch in a pretty square and a bit of people watching we found our small apartment which is on the 14th floor of a block. It's not great being in a city after the beautiful fresh air and countryside of Patagonia.

Our usual routine on arrival followed - visit the tourist office and shop for food. There was what I can only describe as a "hoodie" type youth manning the info centre, lounging in the chair. He was not at all engaged at the start but he did warm up eventually.

Someone has looked out for us today what with the protective dog, the kind driver who picked us up, Martin seeing the purse.... and this evening a man stopped me as I was about to cross the road and saved me from being mown down by a cyclist.