Southern Summer, Argentina, Chile and Y Wladfa Gymreig 26th Jan

Just two more long bus rides to do before the flight home. Today we are travelling from Bariloche to Puerto Varas, a distance of about 300 kms but will take 6 to 7hours as we have to cross the Andes and allow time for the border crossing. We have pre booked with Andesmar as I feel they consistently provide the best service. Not a great start however as we are half an hour late leaving the bus station.

The only way to travel. If you are wondering where the steering wheel is, we are on the top deck. North up Ruta 40 again until we turn left (west) and start the big climb.

As ever the scenery is spectacular as we grind on up. The weather begins to close in as well.

This is the point we actually leave Argentina. The leaving was relatively easy. We all got off the bus and queued to have our passports checked and stamped. Then we were given a Chilean entry form to complete back on the bus. The bus then moved on for another 10 kms or so before. .............

the border into Chile. I've never known such a long no-man's land before. Mind you there was nowhere else to go. This crossing was interesting. Everyone and all the luggage off the bus. We put our hand luggage on a low table, all in a long single line, handed in the now completed form and queued to have our passports stamped. I watched in admiration as a dog (I know I said no more dogs) jumped up onto the table and ran along it smelling every bag. This procedure was followed by a repeat by another dog. The dog handlers were very nice to the dogs (in an English kind of way) and wore a smart uniform with  (unbelievably) "K9 Unit" written on their epaulets. This same procedure was followed with the cases out of the side lockers. The whole shebang took at least an hour then off we went again, in Chile.

The cabin attendant next gave everyone a bingo ticket. He told us in broken English that he would also call the numbers out in broken English. Well it was great fun and really got the coach together for the first time. No charge and I don't know if there was any prize but fortunately we didn't win or even come close otherwise there might have been an almighty row about which numbers he had actually called out.
We noticed the difference almost straight away in Chile. The roads improved, the scenery became much greener so the farms looked prosperous and there seemed to both plenty and a large variety of crops. At one point I looked out of the window and said to Helen, "Bloody hell, we're on the wrong bus. That's Mt Fuji over there! " It was, of course the world famous Osorno volcano, of which until that moment,  I had not heard.
This is our home for the next three days and very welcome it and we were.

Our host with the smile was Stefan. He is the son of the owners of Sweet Home B and B. This is the sitting /breakfast area.

Tomorrow I shall tell you more about the volcanos, if we ever  see them again as it is now raining.