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.