I’ve travelled into Chile, and as usual, I was nervous at the boarder. This one was a bit different though. The boarder offices on Perus side are not in use anymore and so one must go straight to the one in Chile. Is this really right though? I, under no circumstances, want to travel straight into Chile without having gone through the proper procedures.
For this procedure, you need to buy a document on the first floor of the cafeteria. Then all the stamps, here and there.
The trickiest part is having a document from Chile with the carbon paper to have a copy themselves. They insisted on having me sign it in front of the counter but because it was so windy, this was nearly impossible. Eventually they let me go back to the car to sign it. 
Off to Arica in the north and the first thing I did was look for a hostel so that I could shower. Found a nice hostel run by Kiwis, I did however have to pay the full price even though I was sleeping in my car. The next morning I went surfing with a young girl from Norway and one from Germany. We surfed the waves that had the best reputation for ‘beginners’ in Chile. After the morning session, I went back to the hostel to find the sun roof of the camper wasn’t closed and a branch had ripped it from its hinges. The glue I had in my tool box couldn’t be used anymore, and so I began my search for new glue. Believe it or not, I actuall found some!
I glued it back, but the glue needs 8 hours to dry properly. Luckily, it has’nt rained here for 6 months, so sleeping with the sunroof open is no problem. 
I was on my way to my evening surf session when I cut my foot on something sharp at the beach. The sea water disinfected it perfectly, Bienie your cream burns! But it works! I disinfected a but further with red wine, then a super plaster which holds for 3 days!
From Arica, I went south to Pica, a haven in the Atacama, very much overrated since the camping place also didn’t make such a good impression, so I’m off to Iquique.
In Iquique I actually got my windscreen glued and my sun roof reinstalled (properly) I found out that the tank that is still on my roof, is costing me a lot of fuel and speed. I’m also a ‘hazard’ to other traffic…
The next morning I fueled the car, and at the petrol station I borrowed a ladder and packed the tank into the car. I actually wanted to use the lift at the station but apparently Emmazwo is too heavy and too big. There was a sign indicating that only vehicles that way less than 3500kg are allowed to be hoisted on the lift. I showed the proof that the camper was 3000kg, but still a no go. Would’ve been nice to use the lift, such a luxury.
I travelled further, to Atacama, a bigger city that doesn’t really phase me that much. I drove through the desert and further into the South to Taltal- a small town with a brewery, a bit dead but it’s interesting somehow. 
I drove through Atacama to La Serena and after days and days of driving only through the desert, I was more than happy to see some green again. From here I had a quick kiting session by the lake Embalse Puclaron, happy to have the wound on my foot healing fast.
While I was in Atacama, I also scarified a lama and prayed for a healthy future for a good friend. There’s really nothing to see along the coast in Atacama, so rocks that look like an elephant and a dog was really a highlight.
The owner of the camping place had lots of tools for me to borrow. This allowed me to securily build my tank back under the car. I discovered that the reparations made in Bolivia didn;t do the car much 
good, I had to screw the tin by the cover again. Kiting here is quite expensive, 100€ for one afternoon. I think I need to train more to really get good.
I drove to Viña del Mar and Valparaiso. The old quarter in Valparasio really caught my eye. It was similar to the one in Buenos Aires, just big and more authentic.
Since my spare parts are still in Santiago, I went to Puchilemu to search for more kiting. The place I found wanted to charge me 130€ minimum, and so I used my training kite instead. I learn from my mistakes, this time I wore a long pair of pants and closed shoes. The wind was quite strong so I had to release the rope twice and was still lifted up a bit, control doesn’t look like that.
From there I went to the Colchagua, a wine farm. Either they were closed or they had now wine tours because there was no one there. So I continued on to Santiago in the hope that my parts had arrived.
The glue I used for the sun roof was apparently not the best. My air conditioning was so loud, I stopped at Citroen in Santiago and I had them change the oil and do some reparations for 200€. I think I’m ready for Patagonia now. 
I did a bit of sight seeing in Santiago. The popular thing about this city is the high mountains on the one side, and the ocean on the other side.
The idiots at Fedex kept my spare parts because there was a battery with it, which is not allowed to be sent. I had to pay a fine of 130€, then I sent photos and product description and beg Alvona to explain to them that it has to do with a battery monitor and not the actual battery.
I drove to Fedex in Santiago and asked for a compilation of the receipt It was 20€ for the toll, and then a further 100€ for ‘import tax’. I think they were just trying to rip me off. The explanation is only coming on Monday. Since I’m not going to be staying in Santiago very long, Ik told them to keep it and am just upset for wasting my time speeding to the south.
I did have some nice memories though. I locked the keys in the car. With a borrowed knife and pair of scissors, I pried the side window open to get in. Crazy how easy it actually is.
I took the subway into the city centre of Santiago and had a nice cup of coffee, then came the realisation that I forgot my money. The waiter said he trusted me, and then even the employee at teh station helped me out with her private money since I had no rides left on my card. I fixed everything with lots of tip and a box of chocolates.