When the cheap means the double.

What is the difference between those two 50 pesos bills? The answer is: value of 13 USD.
You as a foreigner will not see the difference on the first look at all. Althought there is watermark and the silver stripe implemented in, the quality of the paper is quite different. Most possible place to get the fake bills is the street or some cheap hostels. Be aware of Avenue Hostel on Mayo Av. in Buenos Aires. You dont wanna carry the black jolly which is pretty hard to get rid of, unless you are collector or counterfeiters supporter.:)

It is hard not to love Buenos Aires

Its enough just to mention parilla, tango, variety of steaks, passion in every fragment of the life, empanadas, art, vine. Buenos Aires is great destination not only for food lovers but has some special charm and vibe which can be envied by any other place on the earth. And if you extend the trip to Colonia in Uruguay which is just 60km and 126 pesos for day-round-trip over the river then you will understand what means "the new beginning".

The Sun the traitor

I was wondering why I dont feel like I am in my own skin. Somehow I have the natural sense for orientation and I feel where the north is. Something like the moss on the trees which covers the north side of the trunk. Now I know. The sun is the reason. While in the northern hemisphere the sun runs from the left to the right in the southern part of the globe it has opposite direction. Even the elevation of the sun makes you feel that it is still 4 o clock pm because Torres del Paine is not far from the arctics.
Hint: There is the bus running to the park once a day. 12000 CLP for round trip from Punta Natales. Entrance fee to the park is 15000 CLP. Despite it is low season this is the best time of the year to enjoy the clear air and multi-colored nature. It is middle of the april, the fall season of the southern hemisphere. There are free campgrounds in the park and the level of difficulty, I would say 3 out of 5 to reach the Torres. Make sure you will use the time proven shoes by you for hiking. You dont wanna end up with bloody blisters like me.

From Santiago to Patagonia by bus

Ok. Here are the real data experienced in april 2009. You can find the airplane ticked for few hundred bucks round trip, but you will not know what is the Puerto Montt like and you will not see the beautiful scienic views of chilean and argentinian Andes.

Santiago - Puerto Montt: the trip will last around 12 hours and if you are not chicken which needs the bed to sleep, you will pay 12000 CLP/16euro only.
Puerto Montt - Punta Arena: 30 hours sitting will cost you 30000/40euro. All the long distance busses in Chile are very comfortable with high standards.

Casuela de Argentina

I better not try to describe. But when i put the spoon into my mouth suddenly the heaven opened and the chorus of angels started unisono with accompanying the holy bells. I thought i am dreaming but the glass of chillean white assured me that paradise really exist. Its GPS is here 41¤39'04"South and 71¤27'54"West.

Valparaiso

It is a sin if you are in Santiago and you dont visit Valparaiso. The trip will take over an hour by comfi buses for less than 6000 CLP round trip. The spirit of the artistic hilly city will not let you forget. Imagine the immigrants almost 200 hundreds years ago moved in for better future. Each hill was occupied by different minority which gave the todays look of Valparaiso.
Hint: Must see :)

Finaly on the road.

No no. It didnt take me 4 months to move my ass, but while 2 months ago I was discovering the mystic voodoo island Siquijor of the Philippines, now finaly after long journey I can enjoy the taste of cold draft beer in Santiago de Chile. The journey begins in this modern city full of young people studying at the universities. Here I realized that level of my spanish literacy is below zero. The bus driver operating on the route between the city and the airport had understood 'dos ticketos' instead of me saying 'Los heroes' :) so I ended up paying 2 x 1400 chilean pesos.

Hint: Dont get yourself to be fooled at the airport by taxi drivers. You will barely notice, but there is local infodesk. Even though the sweet lady has no sign around the desk, not a computer or the phone on, not even a free map or any sort of prints and she doesnt even speak english but with her effort to give me the right info made me feel that this is going to be my 'experiencia graciosa' :)