From Mendoza I boarded a bus with the O’Higgins bus company, which took us across the Andes mountains into Santiago de Chile by way of Los Libertadores highway. I gazed out the window watching the gradually changing landscape as we ascended from the high planes into the mountains.  A clear blue, mineral-rich spring-sourced river rushed around bends and crashed over boulders.  White water rafting stations flanked the banks but were closed waiting for higher flows from the melting snow during the spring and summer months.  Arid vegetated zones colored orange, red and yellow from mineral rocks were soon speckled white with a dusting of ice and snow.  The blanket of snow got thicker and covered more of the mountainside as we ascended the switchbacks from which the route offered picturesque views of the Andes including, the Western Hemisphere’s highest peak, Aconcagua at 6,962m (22,841ft).

I took the same O’Higgins bus company back to Mendoza, where I noticed a street named O’Higgins leaving me to question this name’s significance in Argentine history.  After a little research I learned he was among ‘Los Libertadores’ during the war for Latin Independence in 18th and 19th centuries.  In fact, http://www.loslibertadores.net/films.php is a series of films that documents the herioic leaders of Jose Marti (Cuba), Jose de San Martin (Argentina), Jose Artiga (Uruguay), El Cura Hidalgo (Mexico), Tiradentes (Brazil), Bernardo O’Higgins (Argentina), Tupac Amaru (Peru) and Simon Bolivar (Venezuela, Colombia).  Ironicaly, much of their education and training was formed while abroad in Europe, such as Spain from whose rule they fought independence.  O’Higgins served as a general for the Chilean Nationalist army fighting for their independence from the Spanish Royalists. With his close ties to General San Martin from Argentina, San Martin led 7,000 troops from Mendoza across the Andes to where he met with O’Higgins’ forces to oust the Spanish rule.  O’Higgins took leadership of an independent Chile, first as a dictatorship in 1817, then as a republic in 1818.  Thus giving a historical meaning to the name of the bus company and highway across the mountains.

Memorial for those who fought for Independence

Mendoza is the biggest city in the region, best known for its countless vineyards and production of wine.  I had a few stop overs in Mendoza giving me a chance to explore the city.  My first time through was on a Sunday.  Other than church the city was a ghost town.  I did visit the history museum with a ticket that also admitted me to the aquarium and cultural center.  There was an international film festival, that day with a free viewing of the dutch film ‘Rotterdam Maraton’.  It attracted a run-centric audience and we all found it to be funny.  On a weekday morning, I saw the usual rush to work and school routine.  It seems easy to eat and do all your shopping during your commute with bike street vendors selling everything from hot and cold drinks to baked goods and kiosks selling everything from flowers to electronics.

The plaza outside the History Museum

Restored Spanish mission

The Governor’s Palace lit up in the Argentinian colors, Blue and White

Wine barrels and grape vines are signs around the city that you are in Argentina’s wine region

Receiving leavened bread rolls after mass in honor of St. Anthony feast day

My trip is still young and I have learned and experienced so much, but once an explorer/adventure traveler always one, and I find myself adding on to my list of excursions to knockout, such as returning in a warmer season to climb atop Aconcagua, tour the glacial masses of Patagonia further south and go white water rafting.

A street lined with Platano trees at sunrise, symbolizing my round-the-world trip of enlightenment