Meeting Mr Miserable (Or No Sheewee Required)

ALGORROBO, CHILE.

We leave San Pedro at 9:20am, it's 61 miles or so to the airport. We have to return the car with the fuel tank 5/8 full. Twenty miles in, the guage drops into 5/8. We're expecting to have to add petrol. But, after an uneventful journey, it's still showing 5/8 when we park up. Success!

For a number of miles we've been seeing a plume of black smoke rising up into the sky. As we approach Calama, it becomes clear that it is a rubbish dump burning by the roadside. As we're sat at the gate, a Canadian sits close by. He's having trouble accessing the internet. We'd had the same issue earlier. The difference being that he has bought a Chilean SIM card. He starts his tirade by reference to the rubbish burning, why do they have to do it so close to the airport? He doesn't take into account that it's out of town and away from their people. He is the most negative man! He can't remember where he's been nor where he's going next. He's ghad enough of Chile, it's supposed to be a first world country but he believes it's still third world. Anyway, Santiago doesn't have enough museums, the Rockies are better than the Andes and the geysers in Yellowstone Park are better than those in Atacama. Although, on this last point, he admits that he's never seen the Yellowstone ones. He's travelling first class, having hired a guide and driver in Santiago and stayed all-inclusive in San Pedro. So, I suggest that they are calling first class passengers, even though they weren't, just to get rid of him

The car rental office is just by the door. There's no queue and a shuttle bus takes us to the car park. The most thorough guy I've ever met takes us through all the chips and functions of the car. We get lost trying to exit the car park. Nobody wants to give us time and consideration. Eventually, we get on to the motorway. We suspect that we've jumped a toll. Encountered three more tolls before arriving at Algorrobo on the coast. Which tells us that we've gone too far. At least, this time satnav takes us to the right road and we start to make our way inland. We stop at a couple of restaurants for directions, the first is about to close, the second looks nicer and is open until 7pm. Eventually, we find the lodge and encounter a large gate. No-one answers the bell. Then we realise that the gate is unlocked and can be pulled open.

We're met by a Spanish speaking girl. We understand most of what is said. It's a wellness centre with sauna, hot-tub, hot coals and swimming pool. Our lodge is a pleasant surprise, it has its own bathroom.

We drive back to the restaurant, Los Cypresses. Only two other diners left. The food is superb but too much, chicken for RJ and salmon for PG. We choose a lovely lemonade and mint drink freshly made. A digestive drink each on the house. Below is the view from our table.

We drive down to a supermarket on the edge of town to collect some supplies. We consider a walk along the promenade but parking is almost impossible. Besides, it looks like a poorer version of Blackpool.