13th December

Ian and I made a pact with the others that we would get up for breakfast at see them off. Boy what a struggle. Rob was in a bad way when I woke him up and breakfast as a whole wasn't well supported by Exodus! It was an emotional good-bye. Charlotte was visibly upset and with the others it was partly a lack of sobriety and hopefully genuine emotion. The new guys looked terrified and speechless - remind you of anyone on the first day? Said farewell to Andy and Tubbs who have been great, depsite the former being in a foul mood. Ruth already found one of the clues to the hidden book.

Went back to bed and onto the second breakfast of the day and moved my stuff to the new room - Ian and I splitting the costs for tonight. Ian, Steve and I went for a stroll to Cerro Santa Lucia - a hill in the middle of the city which provided good views but sadly the haze over Santiago most of the year means we couldn't see the Andes clearly. We also went up the Cerro San Cristobál - a bigger hill reached by funicular and descended by cable car which was a right laugh - despite questioning the safety aspects of the latter on the way down. We had lunch at the top and Steve indulged in his final Pisco Sour.

Got back to the Plaza de Armas by cab, Steve went to meet his cousin. I dragged Ian to more "coffee with legs" - poor bloke was speechless and shaking. We got back to the hotel and chatted to Jon and Sarah and later had another curry with the other 3. Really tasty, if a little hot, sampled the seafood that Chileans boast at any opportunity. Dinner conversation was good, we spoke about what the truck folk were up to, who was arguing and how the newbies are getting on. We spoke about Steve as he has departed and how we thought he was a genuine kinda guy - not the best after too many beers but generally very thoughtful and pleasant when sober - he could be worse and indeed in the last 3 weeks I have seen other characters far worse.

Ian has to get up at 4am so we both turned in early. Tomorrow I am on my tod!