Santiago to Portillo bus ride

What is Sprim? At first glance I was confused. Sprim Nectar. Hmm... at least it has some vitamix A+B+E

This curious little bag of apricot nectar was provided on the ride by the TurBus company that transported me from Santiago up to the mountains, along with the little bar of puffy chocolate milk balls compressed into a bar, and a normal looking/tasting oatmeal cookie. Yes, I know it's just a snack and not a real meal, but the Chilean diet often times exhibits a lack of balance. Starch, sugar, starch, sugar, starch. That's if it doesn't include meat and cheese. 

The real story here is a tip for those of you who might try to visit Portillo someday: Rather than buy a van ride to the resort from their office for $160 USD, you can catch the TurBus route from Santiago to Mendoza for $26 USD and tell the bus driver that you want to get off at Portillo. They will stop the bus to let you out right in the middle of a two-lane mountain road, just 1km before the Argentina border crossing. 

More on the return journey in a later update...