The ride from Mercedes to Mendoza was hard. It had to be at least 40C if not hotter. We were now in the dry pampa where there is nothing but shrubs, empty highway, sun, and heat. The three hour ride seem to take forever.
Mendoza is a pretty province of vineyards at the foothills of the Andes. The capital, Mendoza City, has wide tree lined streets, many pretty plazas with fountains and statutes. I found it interesting how the city came to life in the evening after the sun set. Families with their children sat in the parks and the sidewalk cafes were full until midnight.
On Friday we rode into the Andes on the highway into Chile. Again, a very good road. The Andes are dramatic. The mountains are steep, high, and some where mutlicoloured in reds, pinks, greens, whites, and greys. There were no villages. We rode to Puenta del Inca which, according to the tourtist book, is one of "the" wonders of South America. It is an interesting yellow rock formation of a "bridge" created by sulphur hotsprings.
We then rode to the foot of the highest peak in the Americas, Aconcagua. It was a windy, lonely destination.
