And so to the last continent on our world trip.
Acclimatising to South America in Santiago, Chile, was easier than expected in this suprisingly westernised city, although we quickly realised that a few Spanish lessons might be useful.....Nobody seems to speak English in S.America. Once safely across the Andes into Argentina, stopping briefly for wine tasting in Mendoza, we took legendary Route 40 South following the mountains towards Bariloche, Patagonia.
Eyes stinging from lack of sleep we arrive into smog filled Santiago, Chile. Those mountains seemed enormous compared to New Zealand peaks.
Jet lag kicking in at Hostel Forestal, Santiago.....no idea what time of the night it was? Annoyingly, we were wide awake :-(
Eventally we could function during the day time so took a ride on the funiculr railway for views of Santiago and distant Andes. Tip of the hat to you, Joss, for this recommendation.
We took the long walk down hill back to the city and into the smog once again.
Olut Kello ( beer o'clock )
At the border with Agrentina , 3300m above sea level. Luckily they did not turn us back.
Dude, where's my car..... A reminder that pace of live is pretty slow here in Mendoza.
Suvi's happy place :-)
We were thinking of shipping one of these to Finland for the wedding :-)
....quick, call AA.
At last, the best bit of the tour....tasting.
Jugglers at a red light....love it!
Spot the tourist hustle!
High Andes tour...spectacular road between Santiago, Chile and Mendoza, Argentina.
Hot springs, Church and former sight of a luxurious hotel.... An avalanche wiped out the hotel, just missing the church.
Former railway town, now Ghost town at Las Cuevas high in the Andes at 3200m.
No one home since 1984.
Sadly missing my snowboard at Penitentes ski resort :-(
Crazy English Clark brothers built this railway....now disused, but maybe open for tourism soon.
Former glacial valley followed by erosion on a grand scale.....a geographers dream.
Ahhhah - after 19hrs on the bus on Route 40 south, we catch a glimps of Bariloche across the lake.
Jukka's car :-)
Bloomin cold here!
Above Bariloche...Prize view at the end of our hike.
Davids.
Pray to the gods that the cable car will get Suvi off the mountain safely :-)
Hanging on....nearly down safely!
Spooky views of clouds from our hostel window in Bariloche.
Lake side, Bariloche.
