4 hours on the border of Chile

The breakfast buffet at the Hotel Ibis could convince us even more. Then we drive to the bus station in a completely overloaded taxi and the waiting can begin. We don't suspect that it would be so bad then. Our Andesmar bus arrives 45 minutes late. The annoyed bus driver doesn't want to take us with him for the time being, because he thinks we would need a Chilean visa, which fortunately is not necessary as a Swiss.

After all, on board we have to do the usual arduous ones Entry forms fill in and the journey takes us up into the Andes. This area of the central Andes is considered to be one of the driest areas ever. In this area, by the way, was also the film "7 years in Tibet" turned. Vegetation is extremely sparse and can only feed a few animals, like one of the vicunas that we see from the bus. The impressive mountains can also be seen on this brilliantly beautiful day. The brief look over to the is outstanding Aconcagua.

Then they reach Border crossing queue. And this is where the great wait begins. After well over an hour in the bus, all passengers can finally get off and continue standing in line at counter 1. After waiting for another hour, we get the Argentinian one there Exit stamp and can and next door queue up again for the Chilean Entry stamp. The extremely unfriendly Chilean customs officer takes a lot of time again. If you think that everything is over, you can queue up again in the building opposite to be able to be Scan luggage allow. After four hours, the bureaucratic fiasco comes to an end. I was well aware that we would have such experiences in South America, but I am so that it will be on the Argentine-Chilean border  surprised.

Finally we can go on and the spectacular pass road, which leads down in innumerable hairpin bends. There are another four hours of driving to the Pacific to us. The places seem much more European, tidier and cleaner than before. First we reach the modern seaside resort Viña del Mar.

Finally we come to the cooler one Valparaíso where we booked an AirBnB for two nights not far from the bus station. We are already expected by the friendly Fernanda and she shows us the simple and somewhat dingy student apartment. But that's okay for two nights, the price is a lot lower than for a hotel room. It is already after 10 p.m. when we go shopping in the adjacent shopping center and eat back in the apartment.