Santiago to Mendoza / Feb 01

Heading from Santiago to Mendoza through the Andes and across the border into Argentina on the bus to get the "full" experience

First class bus travel here is not to be confused with Greyhound. Our bus attendant busily serves beverages and snacks while loading movies into the DVD player.
But who can watch 'Pirates of the Carribean' when this is out the window.

The road from Santiago becomes steeper and steeper as we approach the summit.  There are over 30 hairpin turns to climb this little hill.  Like New Zealand, Chile doesn't beleive in wimpy guardrails.

Then a tunnel to take us across the summit.

Adios Chile!

Bienvenidos Argentina!

We've heard horror stories about multi-hour waits here in the freezing cold to clear customs.  However, they've build a new customs station down the mountain a few miles that's enclosed and quite fast: less then a hour and we're on our way.

We don't see a soul and then

a local tour group floats by.

And into the fertile vineyards of Mendoza, however will we spend our time??