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Into the Andes
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Decided that I really needed to get up into the Andes. So I headed down to the bus stop to see where I could get. I next bus went to to a town a couple miles away called Uspallata, so that is where I was off to. The guide book claimed that is where 7 Days in Tibet, with Brad Pitt was filmed, so, sounded neat.
The 2 hour bus ride was amazing. Went through desert mountains with cactus and the tall Andes in the background. I wish I could get pictures uploaded. As we pulled into Uspallata the valley opened up onto a wider plain with mountains on onside and some pretty cool red rock formations on the other. I got off at the crossroads of the pretty small town. There were a few hotels around the crossroads, and a couple restaurants, but the hostel was a good 5 km out of town. Decided a really did not want to walk that far, and really wanted to get further into the mountains, so bought a ticket for the next bus to Puente del Inca in a couple hours, and set down at a cafe for a couple Empanadas, a salad, and a beer.
The bus ride the rest of the way was even more amazing, another 2 hours of riding up into the Andes. The peaks just kept getting bigger and snow appeared on the side of the road. I was heading up to within maybe 10 miles of the Chile boarder and to pretty much the closest "town" to the highest peak in the Americas, Cerro Aconagua (6962m). I go to "town" about 7PM, as the sun was starting to set and headed straight to the hostel, hoping it was open and had room as it was the only one listed in the book. I did get a bunk in about the diviest hostel I have stayed in. Part of the divieness just added character, it was in the old train station and pretty neat. But, the draftiness, broken toilets and showers, and general dirtiness left a little to be desired. But, it worked. There were a couple small stores in town, one restaurant, and a hotel with a restaurant. Also turns out there was one other hostel and I met three guys from there and grabbed a light dinner in the hotel, where we were the only people. The town is named after a natural bridge over the small muddy stream behind town, was pretty neat and worth a couple pictures.
After looking around and dinner, I headed back to the hostel to find I was locked out. I waited about 30 minutes before starting to worry, as it was late and getting cold. Long story short, after finding a lady walking near her house, and being lead to 2 other people, we figured out the the young guy running the place had gone climbing, yes, at night. I just bundled up outside with a book and waited. Couple hours later he showed back up, around 11PM, and said he thought I had left town, even though I had paid him for the room, and my lock was still on my locker in there. I decided to just blow it off, as there was nothing to do at this point except climb into bed with my book and warm up.
The next day I had a couple hours so I went for a short walk. Just headed up the road for a little while and then cut off on a trail. Was nice to get away from roads and towns a little bit, even though it was a pretty short hike. Found a great view of Aconagua and just sat for a while taking it in.
That morning, I decided to make my way to Cordoba and to the Oktoberfest, so I am sitting in a Mendoza internet cafe, waiting for the 10PM night bus to Cordoba. Decided against Chile finally, even though I was so close. Everyone I have talked to has said Santiago is just ok, and I really do not have the time to get to the neat areas.
Going to go grab some dinner now.
Where I stayed:
Refugio La Vieja Estacion
Latest Comments (2)
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Espanol? (reply)
Oct 12, 2008 13:09 EST by tiffany77
Are you speaking Spanish the whole time, or are there a lot of English Speakers? I hope they understand 'questa?!'. Have fun at Oktoberfest!
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