As was the champagne and the various Chilean wines. We really rather enjoyed the “down time” we were having as we had been going at full tilt since we arrived in Argentina so we sat back ready to enjoy Happy Hour. Fat chance! We helped ourselves to the snacks which were on offer and debated as to whether we would graze there or move on to dinner. To be quite frank the former option was the more attractive one as our diet over our trip had been almost exclusively been steak and Malbec although on one or two occasions I had chosen the vegetarian option as I had gone into beef overload! A light diet of snacks was very tempting. We helped ourselves and settled down to enjoy ourselves and we did until a couple of businessmen arrived at the next table and were rapidly joined by others of that ilk. They were initially interesting to us as one recounted that he took over passenger aircraft that were being offloaded by airlines and converted them to cargo planes but then they each started to outshine the other with their tales; one was an agricultural expert who was there about something to do with grain; another had just brought in the Formula One entourage into Brazil (Aer John echoed my thoughts as to what was he doing in Chile if the F1 teams were in Brazil 
). Like schoolboys they each tried to top each other’s stories! 
Chris was the first to capitulate and head for the room but I stayed on a bit longer, mainly because I was embarking on the first of my TRs but eventually they impacted on my concentration and so I abandoned the delights of the lounge for an early night. 
Following in our usual tradition of early morning flights and therefore, early morning rises we were up before dawn had even cracked! We had been told that the lounge opened at 6am but had not been told that breakfast started at 6.30am - and our taxi was booked for 6.30am! Nonetheless we managed to get some coffee and snaffle some of the offerings being set up for breakfast before heading out for our taxi and the airport. There was a distinct nip in the air as we left the hotel and I can honestly say it was chilly in Chile! *groan*
Check-in was swift and painless and we were through in no time at all. Santiago airport had an extensive duty free shop which was priced in US dollars and I still had some left and so I made some purchases leaving me with $1. Note this, dear reader, it will be important in another TR! 
Our flight was the first of the morning to Mendoza and had a light load. We were given coffee and a muffin but then the flight was only 40 minutes long. We had been instructed to fasten our seat belts and keep them fastened as we would be flying over the Andes and starting our descent almost immediately after that. We managed to get some good shots of the Andes
…... and very nice it was too.
