Argentina

Buenos Aires is bathed in graffiti. We loved walking the different neighborhoods and checking out the wall art.

Argentina

Buenos Aires is famous for her dog walkers. We loved to see a walker going down the side walk with ten big dogs, stopping to pick up another one from the doorman on his route and heading to the park. Once there, he leashes some of them to tree branches and the well trained get to be off leash. They play, have snacks and take naps. Doggy Day Care for beloved pets.

Argentina

We loved spending time with friends Mariano, Dominique, Emilio and Lula. Stan and I met Mariano, Dominique,and Emilio through Ben, when they all worked together in Breckenridge,Co. The time we spent with them and their families in Buenos Aires was so special to us.

Uraguay

The four of us made a quick trip to Colonia for the day. It was a great place to explore and experience cobblestones at their finest!

Argentina

We loved the waterways in Mendoza. They go all through the town, carrying water from the Andes.

Argentina

High up upon a mountain....

Argentina

Bariloche is very cool. We loved our old world hotel on the waterfront with views across the lake.

Chile

Vicki and Greg treated us to 3 days at the Cliffs Preserve, near Parga, on the coast of Chile. It is a fantastic place. We ate gourmet meals, spent time relaxing in the spa, went hiking with the wonderful guides, and horseback riding as well. We watched the waves roll in and sat in the wood fired hot tub, with the rain sprinkling down. It was such a treat; we'll always remember...

Chile

The highway heading out of Puerto Varas, Vicki's town. There are two volcanos to choose from.

Chile

Rupanco, isn't it gorgeous? Greg's family home is a wonderful place to retreat.

Chile

Vicki's friend Scott stuffed all our luggage and the six of us into his car and gave us a wild ride into Santiago from the airport. Unloading felt like we were the clowns at a circus..... Thanks to Scott for putting us all up at his apt in the city.

Chile

Stan and Tom show us how to raise a muffler.

Our last night, saying goodbye to Chile

Back in the USA

Hey! What happened? Last week at this time I was relaxing on the coast of Chile, staying in a fun little hosteria on the coast, by the museum of Pablo Neruda, famous Chilean poet. Tonight I'm sitting in a familiar 5th wheel in Chanute, Kansas, drinking hot chocolate and wondering if it's going to rain on our travels to Dodge City tomorrow. You know what? They're both good places to be. Great trip - great to be home.

Full Moon in Santiago

We've just arrived in Santiago,Chile and I'm looking out the floor to ceiling windows of a 15th story apt at the full moon and lights of the city. This is a city of 5 million people. We spent the afternoon climbing the hill at Sta Lucia to view it from the top. Snow covered peaks all around, then down into the market to buy vegetables, fruits, nuts and cheeses for an evening snack. This is such a change from the areas that we have been frequenting, like Rupanco, a 30 mile long lake ovverlooked by two hundred ft waterfalls and a volcano, Puerto Varas, on a HUGE lake overlooked by two volcanos and beautiful, verdant farmlands. Well I could go on and on. Chile is fantastic and totally unexpected. It's like the Swiss Alps, the California coastline, a little bit of Mexico and a lot of Germany and so pure. Yesterday we were eating at a German restaurant by the lake, a few days before we were checking the surf in Parga and today it's all about the city. The overriding theme is the food. It's time to get back to the basics there, or face serious consequences!! Oh the stress of it all....

Crossing the Andes

Buenos Dias from South America. After many tries on many computers, I am finally able to access our blog. Bien! We have successfully crossed the Andes and are now in Puerto Varas, Chile. A new paradise for us. This town sits on the edge of a giant lake, with snow topped volcanos behind it. We are here at the beginning of spring so the trees are just leafing out or in flower. After leaving Buenos Aires, Stan and I took and overnight bus to Mendoza. A bus you say? These buses are amazing. It´s like traveling first class on an airline only you are on the ground, a big plus for Stan. They serve meals and your overstuffed leather seat folds down flat so that you can sleep. Movies in English help. They even offer champagne!! Mendoza is very like Napa Valley. The water comes down out of the Andes and they have cobblestone canals along all the streets, with the water running through. Beautiful trees line all the streets as well and it has the feel of a very prosperous town. From there we went on to Bariloche, which is a resort town on a lake in the Andes at the gateway to Patagonia. We stayed in a hotel on the street fronting the lake. It felt as if we were in the Swiss Alps. We went hiking, picnicking and Stan and Tom skied at the resort there. Spring conditions but so beautiful. Crossing to Chile took three ferries and four buses yesterday. Oops, and lots of time going through the customs rigamarole. Vicki Johnson surprised us by meeting us in Peulla, which is where her son Alan was born and they were living at the time. It was so great to see her pop into view. We spend the next two weeks in Chile, where we will have many new adventures. One big difference? Seafood instead of bife. I love it all.