The room mini bar fridge had kept the 2 cans of lemonade that I had picked up last night from the stall opposite the Parque Central really icy cold. A much needed and really nice refreshing drink after a quick shower.

Then into a taxi CUC$25 / US$25 / NZ$38 and the half hour drive out to the airport.

LAN didn't open their check in counter till 1.30 pm (13:30). Got my window seat and was given my boarding pass for the next 2 legs in a couple of day's time as well.

Had a few coins left so another postcard CUC .80 / US .80c / NZ$1.25 took care of most of that. Then to the bank and the short queue to change my remaining CUC notes back into British Pound Sterling. Trouble that I was given CUC$6 / US$6 / NZ$9.25 in notes plus some coins. So around the souvenir stalls and in the end offered one what I had left in exchange for an "I love Cuba" oven mitt. Nice souvenir that can be used. What if I did the bank first then spent my remaining CUC?

By now I had realised that for the Santiago to Auckland leg I had seat 42A. Not exactly what I need for the 13+ hour night flight. A window seat at the back of the plane. So having time decided to queue up with the tail end of the passengers still checking in but the really helpful staff said that the seat number is automatically generated and he couldn't do anything. At least I tried.

Through security then the duty free shop. Here they had 500cl bottles of rum. If only I had known instead of picking up the couple of 1 litre bottles yesterday at the rum museum. Only in a few shops on the trip that I had seen the smaller bottle. Plus there were more souvenir shops plus 2 more change bureau with NO queues this side of security.

Finally took off just before 5 pm (17:00). With my window seat, just loved the circular patterns below. The soil is very fertile and rich in minerals, including iron.

With a 2 hour difference landed Santiago, Peru at 9.43 pm (21:43).

I knew that something was wrong again when my checked in bag had not appeared out on the carousel and quickly worked it out by checking my luggage tag. It had been checked all the way through to Auckland in 3 days' time!

Now knowing where the LAN luggage desk was in the customs hall, it took them over an hour to retrieve my bag from the Santiago bound "connection" container. Thank goodness I had taken a photo of my Osprey bag to show the staff.

But I was concerned that there was a driver waiting outside in the arrival area for me. Once I exit it is very hard to come back into the customs area. So scan my day pack and camera bag and standing at the door I managed to see the driver with the sign that had my name on it. Managed to communicate with him what was happening and I would be another 15 minutes. Well 15 minutes came and went. Eventually my bag turned up then to queue again to scan all three bags before finally exiting. Naturally of the 4 queues, I choose the slowest!

By now it was well and truly after 11 pm (23:00) as we left the airport for Miraflores. This remise driver took a different route. Thankfully Anna Marie's husband was still awake to let me into my same old room. Another travel day over. Lesson is check your luggage tag when you are given more than 1 boarding pass.