|
|
| Welcome to Chile, at 3.800 meters altidude, in the middle of nowhere. |
November 21st 2005
Four years later, a dream come true: Argentina! Steve and I crossed the border from northern Chile (San Pedro de Atacama)
over the Paso de Hama into northern Argentina (Salta) a few days ago.
|
| 24 hours later, welcome to Argentina! Finally. |
To be in Argentina is incredible for me. To finally be here inspires emotions in me that are hard to discribe; it's wonderful.
All of the culture and history that accompanies this country and people astounds me - it's almost tangible. It is so different
from Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador to the north of here. The people here are proud, but still friendly and curious and helpful
and generous at the same time. On the way from San Salvador de Jujuy to Salta, I pulled over on an off-ramp from the highway
because I wasn't sure about which road to take. Next thing I know a large tour bus full of passengers pulled up next to me
and asked me where I was headed. After telling him that I was trying to get to Salta, he indicated which route to take.
|
| A Saturday market in Purmamarca, northern Argentina. |
The Argentinian people have so far treated us wonderfully. The great, inexpensive food and wine doesn't hurt either. Steaks,
pasta, empanadas, pizza...everything. In Salta, the people take a long siesta in the afternoon, and usually don't eat dinner
until at least 9pm, usually later. So at 12am every day of the week there are people out and about in the streets and the
plazas, eating, hanging out, strolling about.
Now comes the hard part, going fast enough through the rest of Argentina to get down to Tierra del Fuego while the weather
is still nice.
| This is why I ride a motorcycle and not a bicycle. |
|
| Getting ready to lend a hand to some fellow bikers in getting up this mountain pass. |
|
| And here we go! |
|
| Shade break from the scorching heat in the middle of Argentina, on the way from Cordoba to Mendoza. |
|
| For those who aren't privy to the intricacies of the spanish language, the sign says: ''to Chile.'' |
|
| Outside of Mendoza, heading up into the Andes and the border, then down the other side to Santiago. |
Chile
|
| Cristo Redentor tunnel through a pass in the Andes connecting Mendoza, Argentina and Santiago, Chile |
|
| A little furter on, the Chile Customs and Immigration. Welcome to Chile, for my second time... |
|
| Playa Reņaca, a little north of Viņa del Mar, 1.5 hours from Santiago. |
|
| Camping for free on a bluff above Playa Reņaca. |
|
| Valparaiso. Notice the cable car. |
|
| Valparaiso. Found all over the city, these cable cars are used to get up and down the steep hills. |
|
| Oops. Getting a little work done after a little head-on run-in with a taxi. For me, not a scratch. |
|
| Volcano Villarica, Pucon |
|
| The beach in Pucon, Lago Villarica. |
|
| Castro, Isla Chiloe. |
|
| Norwegian biker arriving in Castro. |
Ride on south to Patagonia
Home Page
|
