Completing the circle in South America
12 February: This time it is by bus that we are travelling! From Valparaiso to Mendoza, an 8-hour drive takes us over the Andes and through the border at more than 3200 m of altitude. The high altitude doesn’t make the road less busy, and we wait more than two hours to cross to Argentina.
Incredible landscapes and the hairpin turns climbing to the Argentinian border.
Beautiful lights as an evening storm forms over the mountains.
13-14 February: Two days to hang around in Mendoza, a green city with plenty of parks and big trees providing shade along most of the streets. We will carefully stay in the shade as the temperature has risen drastically now that we are far from the Pacific Ocean.
Cerro de la Gloria: San Martin and its army crossing over the Andes in 1817 to free Chile and Peru from the Spanish empire.
A visit to La Rural winery and its interesting wine museum…
We head next to Uspallata, a beautiful village about 2 h west of Mendoza where we rent a cabin for a few days. Lovely surroundings, scenic walks and even a brand new foal born during our stay!
16 February: we meet with the giant…the Aconcagua Mountain, 6962 m high and the highest mountain on earth outside Asia, is only a short drive from Uspallata. A nice walk offers great views of the summit and allow the kids to experience their first “high-altitude” hike!
17 February: we indulge ourselves at the “Termas de Cacheuta”, a big water park with thermal water, of course but also water slides, swimming pools, etc. A nice way to use energy before the 14-hour bus ride to Buenos Aires!
18 February: The circle is complete…we are back in Buenos Aires. We rent a flat in Puerto Madero, the newest area of the city. Nice views of the capital from our balcony and, on the ground floor, a huge swimming pool…very appreciated after a walk in the hot and humid city!
A poker game in the apartment turns the kids into gambling addicts, playing from morning to evening.
Despite the pool and the poker game, we still manage to take them out for a few walks: a visit to the Fragata Sarmiento, a training ship for the Argentine Navy in the 1890s.
A trip to the nearby wildlife reserve, on an incredibly hot day. We were hoping to see iguanas, after some friends had told us there was some in the park. Indeed, as we were nearly at the end of the path, we got to see one from quite close…making the trip worth it despite the unbearable heat!
Showering to cool down after the walk!!! Fortunately, a huge storm falls on the city in the evening, refreshing the atmosphere for our last day in South America.
Moving sidewalks in Charles de Gaulle Airport: we reach Paris on February 23 after an uncomfortable flight from Buenos Aires. Happy to meet with our family and friends…even if we know this will be our last stop before going home.
