Valparaiso to Santiago

November 10th Valparaiso to Santiago

It's easy for the people you meet to colour your experience disproportionately. Today was one of those days. I began by fuelling up and yet again the attendant tried to rip me off by trying to charge me the number of litres, instead of the price, in this instance a 2500 peso difference. What really annoyed me was his insistence that he was right - when I didn't move he caved in, this time I told him in my basic Spanish that he was a crook. This was definitely not a mistake on his part.  While in Costa Rica I was told that cheating a Gringo is acceptable, for they believe that we are all wealthy millionaires; to them it is like us getting one up on a very large multinational.

The ride to Santigo was very hot, even though the temperature was only 28 degrees, this can be put down solely to the wind being at my back rather than in my face. I stopped at a Servce area to get a drink and decided to also eat as the prices were very reasonable. A salad, stew with veg and a pudding all for a £5 - that cheered me and filled me up.

I used the satnav and iphone to direct me to the Hotel in Santiago and they both indicated the same place. Fortunately the route they took seemed to avoid the real centre of Santiago and the busy roads were only for a mile or so. Upon arrival however, there was no sign  on any of the buildings that said Altura Suites. I rode around the block looking closely for any clues - there were none. Driving back to where I started I stopped and asked a taxi driver. He pointed at  the inconspicuous looking door opposite with an amused smile.

At the reception there was some confusion and I couldnt quite make out what she was trying to stay. I left her to go and get my stuff off the bike and upon my return, she was gone. I was told by the doorman to wait - which I did. After 20 minutes a young woman turned up and asked me to follow her. At the entance to the lift, she told me to make my way to floor 3 room 317 - I assumed it was my room, but it wasn't. It turned out to be the reception for these sublet apartments. I was now really starting to lose it, when I was asked to complete and sign three documents - all with the same information. Eventually I was given a key and told to go to the 11th floor for my room. All of this time I'd been carrying virtually all the contents of my bike. I got to the alloted room and yes, the key didn't fit. So all the way back to the reception and another confrontation. She spoke very good English, but had forgotten to tell me, that my room was for block A and we were in block B. Again I'm sure that this was done on purpose as the smirk on her face spoke volumes.
What's so sad is that the hotels I have stayed in during my stay in Chile have been excellent - when back in England, which hotel and experience will I remember most? Unfortunately this one, and my view of Chile will have been tainted.

One joy today  was coming through a very long motorway tunnel and seeing Santiago in the distance with the huge snow capped peaks of the Andes - their size took me by complete surprise.