Our last day in Santiago:

A bike ride in the mountains outside the city with a young Chilean couple named Victór and Tere. Victór calls Macky “El Gringo Macky.” Macky likes this a lot. It’s blisteringly hot and the sun bakes dust into our skin. We see cactuses, catch tiny frogs in a stream by a trail and get a great view of smoggy Santiago.

Later that evening, a harrowing drive up a mountain road with 15 plus hair-pin turns. You know it’s going to be good when they start numbering the switchbacks. Macky mentions desire to become a rally car racer. It’s good to be out of the heat of Santiago and into the cool mountain air.