15/08/2008 - 18/08/2008 - T

There really is no point separating these entries, every day went exactly the same . We thought we were cutting it fine, but we did think that the pass over the Andes to Santiago would be open the day after skiing - we were wrong, along with quite a few others stuck in our hostel. There were massive storms that we could see over the mountains from the roof and on TV. Mendoza was nice, but not overly exciting; luckily there was a good crowd so we made the most of the ridiculously cheap wine...descent bottle well under a pound.

Each day we would wake at 8.30, phone the bus company to find that the pass was still closed, go back to bed and rise again at around 1. at this point we would go to the mini mart, get supplies and return to the hostel for an afternoon / evening of drinking, ping pong, and Olympics viewing. One evening the pass opened so there was excitment, only to wake up the next morning and hear of three massive avalanches.

19/08/2008 - T

Woke up slightly hungover (bodies falling apart after the last 5 days) to find the pass was open so scrambled to the bus station to board the bus to Santiago, Chile. Massive sigh of releif with our plane to Auckland leaving in a few days.

The bus journey over the mountains was one of the best yet. The views were amazing and the amount to snow was incredible. You could see where there had been avalanches, whole houses were covered. The photos were taken right at the border.