After a lazy start on 2nd February, I went to the terminal to head back to Santiago. Though I wanted to stop at the famous Puente del Inca (Inca Bridge) there were no buses that would allow that. But after asking around I found there was a shared taxi option to Santiago, which it was agreed would stop at the Puente. The cost was the same as what the bus would have cost!
The trip up into the Andes was spectacular, and I was given plenty of time at Puente del Inca. It was curious thing – not just a regular natural bridge. There seemed to be an old construction of some sort under the bridge which was related to a hot spa. The bridge had apparently been formed by some combination of action between glaciers and this hot mineral spring.
A short way up the road, we sped past the entrance to the valley leading to Aconcagua. It was hard to see the mountain properly, because of the cloud. However in the few seconds that I could see it, I promised myself that before this decade is out, I’ll once again be looking at that view – but I’ll have with me a large backpack, containing a strong tent, double plastic boots, down clothing, 20 days supply of food… and the highest summit in the Western Hemisphere will be shimmering alluringly in the distance under a cloudless blue sky, as I begin my approach march….
It was cold at the border but there was a compensation in the form of an actual free lunch that was being handed out to everyone as a promotion for something.
By late afternoon I was back in Santiago at the South Bus Terminal where I decided that I would forgo another night in Santiago and head 700 km south to Temuco overnight. After buying my ticket I headed back to the Hotel Caribe where I saw Dave the Australian and a couple of other guys who I knew from 3 days previously. After a cheap meal with them I said goodbye and once again took a nice modern metro train down to the South Terminal to board my bus for the south.