Hoping to get a glimpse of Aconcagua, the highest peak in the western hemisphere, Debby and Barbara booked a highland tour toward the Chilean border. No sleeping in today and no stroll to the panadaria for media lunas - we were up early and waiting outside for our tour bus by 6:45. By 7:30 we were all convinced that the on-line booking through California might not have been a good idea....Bummer!
The 6 of us walked a couple of blocks to a cafe but it wasn't open yet - more bad news. Debby and Barbara returned to the apartment to send nast-e-mails while Tom and I and the girls went searching for early morning pastries. A block in the other direction we scored and by 8:15 we were having our sweets with a sour taste in our mouths wondering what to do today. Then the bell rings, I joke that it's our tour guide, and it was! Incredible!! I am sure that we looked like novice travelers to the full bus of travelers outside as we scrambled back into tour mode, spilling out of the apartment and onto the sidewalk - stunned.
As we were the last to board the bus, we quickly left our urban setting and began driving through vineyard after vineyard with pistachio, and fruit trees also along the way until the landscape quickly dried and darkened, driving west to the front range of the Andes. After clearing the front range we entered the Uspallata valley were the giant peaks along the Chilean boarder became visible. Route 7, which will also take us to Santiago next week was the route taken by San Martin's army back in 1817. Our tour stopped at an old stone bridge crossing an ice cold stream from that journey years ago. Back on the bus we kept heading west, climbing and climbing. The wind was picking up and it was cooler but with it the clouds that would block our view of Aconcogua - booooo.
The last nine kilometers of our trip was gravel and dirt switchbacks that headed up the old pass route to the Cristo Redentor monument at an elevation of 4000 meters (13,123 feet). This was our first return to these altitudes since Bolivia and my head did not enjoy it much. We were pounded by fierce winds and our guide told us not to run due to low oxygen levels. I know, I know. The views were incredible but the cold cold wind made for a short visit and photos for the memories. We headed back down the mountain and to Las Cuevas to Puenta del Inca, the natural land bridge over the headwaters of the Mendoza river. The remains of an old hotel and spa at this location of natural hot springs were adjacent, destroyed years ago in an avalanche. The minerals in the water spilling out of the old structure have turned everything a yellowish gold and therer are vendors near by that will sell you a crystalized golden buddah or tennis shoe if you like as a token. We passed.
Next and last stop was lunch were we dined on home made vittles and some malbec before heading back on the bus. I got a good nap on the 2 hour return trip to town, my head decompressed along the way somewhere and the temperature began to rise with each kilometer. Last on the bus and last off, it was a great trip!
The 6 of us walked a couple of blocks to a cafe but it wasn't open yet - more bad news. Debby and Barbara returned to the apartment to send nast-e-mails while Tom and I and the girls went searching for early morning pastries. A block in the other direction we scored and by 8:15 we were having our sweets with a sour taste in our mouths wondering what to do today. Then the bell rings, I joke that it's our tour guide, and it was! Incredible!! I am sure that we looked like novice travelers to the full bus of travelers outside as we scrambled back into tour mode, spilling out of the apartment and onto the sidewalk - stunned.
As we were the last to board the bus, we quickly left our urban setting and began driving through vineyard after vineyard with pistachio, and fruit trees also along the way until the landscape quickly dried and darkened, driving west to the front range of the Andes. After clearing the front range we entered the Uspallata valley were the giant peaks along the Chilean boarder became visible. Route 7, which will also take us to Santiago next week was the route taken by San Martin's army back in 1817. Our tour stopped at an old stone bridge crossing an ice cold stream from that journey years ago. Back on the bus we kept heading west, climbing and climbing. The wind was picking up and it was cooler but with it the clouds that would block our view of Aconcogua - booooo.
The last nine kilometers of our trip was gravel and dirt switchbacks that headed up the old pass route to the Cristo Redentor monument at an elevation of 4000 meters (13,123 feet). This was our first return to these altitudes since Bolivia and my head did not enjoy it much. We were pounded by fierce winds and our guide told us not to run due to low oxygen levels. I know, I know. The views were incredible but the cold cold wind made for a short visit and photos for the memories. We headed back down the mountain and to Las Cuevas to Puenta del Inca, the natural land bridge over the headwaters of the Mendoza river. The remains of an old hotel and spa at this location of natural hot springs were adjacent, destroyed years ago in an avalanche. The minerals in the water spilling out of the old structure have turned everything a yellowish gold and therer are vendors near by that will sell you a crystalized golden buddah or tennis shoe if you like as a token. We passed.
Next and last stop was lunch were we dined on home made vittles and some malbec before heading back on the bus. I got a good nap on the 2 hour return trip to town, my head decompressed along the way somewhere and the temperature began to rise with each kilometer. Last on the bus and last off, it was a great trip!
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