On our way back to Buenos Aires, Argentina (April 26/May2, 2011)

In the end, we have had enough of one day to see Iguazu Falls, and we leave to San Ignacio Mini, a Jesuit mission that has been almost completely restored. At its peak, the Mission had a Guarani population of nearly 4000.



We visit another Mission the following day, Santa Ana. The purpose of this site is to maintain the site as it is and not restore it.

We have also visited a Yerba mate plantation. The plantation Las Marias actually grows mate and tea. The plantation is spread on 32000 ha and employs 2000 people. 70% of the production is exported to ... Syria. They export in about 40 countries in the world. The visit was really instructive and entertaining. Our guide, Belem, was witty, enthusiastic and she obviously enjoyed working there. As she said, she has been working there all her life, her parents have also been employees of this plantation. The company has built homes, a school, soccer fields for their employees.

In Mercedes, there are two main attractions :

The sanctuary of Gauchito Gil. Many shrines on the road in Argentina with the red flags and offerings pay homage to Antonio Gil, a Robin Hook-like figure, whose shrine and burial place in Mercedes attracts tens of thousands of pilgrims every year. Gauchito Gil deserted the army and he started stealing cattle from rich land owners and sharing it with poor villagers, who in turn gave them sherter and protection. Gil was hung by the feet and beheaded. Legends has it that moments before his death, Gil informed his executioner that the executioner's son was gravely ill. he told the soldier that if he were buried, the man's son would recover. On finding that his son was indeed seriously ill, the soldier returned to the site and buried Gil's body. His son recovered quickly, word spread and a legend was born.

The second attraction nearby Mercedes is the Reserva Provincial Esteros del Ibera. We reach it by a dirt road, (125 km) luckily it is not raining, otherwise we would not make it with our car... This reserve is home to an abundance of bird and animal life (howling monkeys, caimans, carpinchos who bark like dogs, birds, deers...). Luckily enough, we did not see any anacondas.

We are now back in Buenos Aires and will be flying back to Los Angeles today, May 3rd. We feel sad to leave South America. This has been a wonderful experience and we have enjoyed the people tremendously both in Chile and Argentina. Argentina is a huge country. We go from very hot and humid in the North with the jungle to cold in the South and vast plains. Car or plane to go from one part of the country to the other ? For us, the car has been the best way to discover the multiple aspects of this country. Driving the Ruta 40 along the Andes is an experience in itself. Ruta 3 is paved, but gave us a sense of the size of the country. 300 kms alone, seeing only nandus and guanacos. Our ''coup de coeur'' still remains the Andes, natural frontier between Chile and Argentina. Salta area has  been really great, first of all, because of the weather, bright blue sky with a very dry air. You also feel that you are in another country, almost in Bolivia. Missiones is also worth seeing, with his guarani indians. The houses are often on pilotis, very small. However, the people are very friendly and eager to share their way of lives. We will never forget these 2 guarani kids in Puerto Iguazu, who barefeet were going through the trash, to find something to eat. Unforgettable is the ''fin del mundo'', Ushuaia. The boats are going to Antartica and dreamers look at them with envy... In the end, Buenos Aires does not leave you insensible : Eva Perron, Tango, streets for pedestrians, coffees... It's been a great 16,500 kms or so loop !

But time flies by... We have been On the Road already for over 8 months and we want to enjoy again our motorcycles in North America.

Soon we will be On the Road Again...