Caught in the middle (of Chile)

Our flight was going to leave in the afternoon, and we were happy not to have to wake up in the middle of the night again.
We had a slow morning, rang up the bus company to ensure they are aware where to pick us up and we confirmed the bus for 1pm.
Still a couple of hours to get ready, pack and relax a little.
The time passed quickly and soon the bus was in front of our gate and we got on. While we picked up the fellow passengers all over town we got a chance to soak up the last bit of atmosphere of this strange place.
Then when we left town and headed towards Calama (where the Airport is) this surreal, empty landscape we had seen earlier this week on the way to San Pedro had become more familiar and I felt sort of sad to leave it behind.
I am really impressed by the vastness, inhospitality and emptiness of this place and I liked it because it was so extreme. I liked it in the same way that I liked the completely different landscape at the other extreme end of this country - Patagonia.
I think Extreme is good.
To give you some more info on this amazing place, that I could not possibly all convey to you, have a look at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2FEOhwGKrOI
Very interesting to watch. Lots of these places recall memories of our adventures in me.
We got to the airport on time and there were no further delays, so that we took off at 16:45 and made it on time to Santiago.
We took the bus and the subway to the Bella Vista Hostel where we had stayed our first night nearly three weeks ago.
A big tempting sigh saying "Jack Burger" drew us into a nice, calm back alley where we were severed great burgers and beers.
We had arranged to meet up with my friend Matias (yes, the Chilean guy I trekked the Annapurna circuit with back in October) and since he studied near Bella Vista area he knew the spots to visit.
It was a long night for a good reason: It was Kai's last night in Chile. He was going to fly back to Munich the next morning. So we made the best out of it and stayed out as long as we could, visiting some cool bars, just to end up in an cozy little Blues Bar where Matias bumped into some old friends.
It was after three when we all decided to part ways and head home... Impressive, considering Matias had a job interview the next day! :-)
Well, this is South America...