Sunday morning we finally put an end to the quicksand that was the municipal campground in Malargüe, the place from which we could not leave. “This place is really peaceful” Layne said and it was. We chatted a bit with our shy Argentine neighbors but it was a nice shady spot to read and watch Rusty sleep.
The road beckoned so we packed up finally determined to leave this lovely peaceful place 
Saturday night in Latin American can be raucous and noisy but Chile and Argentina aren’t like Mexico or Colombia. The campground was full of weekend tent campers filling the age with the smell of grilled meat, peaceful happy families enjoying their weekend. And check out this elaborate camper. Toyota sells a basic diesel, stick shift, pick up truck everywhere outside the US. It’s called the Hilux and here it is serving as a bedroom with a living room attached. Argentines love to camp.
Our luxurious suburban home on wheels attracts attention especially as they never seen a RAM van before but the idea of not having a home or a base is intriguing and disturbing to locals. “No children?”they say, slightly concerned. She was a teacher I say, she had her kids at school ignoring the fact she taught Adult Ed in Marathon. But back to the road, Ruta 40 to Mendoza, sunny and 71 degrees and Michael Connelly on the book on tape, another murder in Los Angeles to solve.
Another Hilux coming at us.
This countryside reminds me of Nevada. Except a speed limit of 110 mph would be superfluous.
Sunday spandex exercise. We did our physical jerks standing outside GANNET2 before we left the campground. Layne got up and made me a cup of tea to sustain me.
Not much traffic so I drove down the white line for fun.
Then I messed with the white balance in the camera to see how that would look.
Then the tedium broke into canyon country.
Another reason I like Chile and Argentina is how they offer view points and pull outs. 15 minutes and a few photos refreshed me and Rusty enjoyed stretching his legs too.
Oddly enough the Patron Saint of Mexico of all places put in an appearance.
I could hear Celia back in Arizona singing “On the road again…” as I slammed the side door shut.
And here we are on Ruta 40 with more unattended roadworks. Argentina is sliding into decay as the money saving stops needed repairs of everything.
To me it looks like a waste but what it feels like to the tax payers driving here every day I can only imagine.
Webb Chiles brought some protests in the capital to my attention. Every week pensioners march in protest in Buenos Aires to demand increased pensions which the government cut. Last week they were joined by football fans. Cars burned, pensioners were swept to the ground by water cannon and the government says any arrested protesters will be banned from football stadiums in the future. Protest in Argentina is not tolerated.
Mendoza is wine country and the plan was to spend the night at a winery where you get to taste their wine and park your RV.
We stopped for a late lunch and to prevent us drinking on an empty stomach.
He’s twenty years old and from Mendoza and actually a pretty cheerful dude. He’s studying accounting with the prospect of a well paid job in Mendoza. His father is a truck driver like his grandfather but they told him it’s a dangerous trade driving the Andean mountain passes. One driver a week dies making deliveries to and from Chile he said.
This is a $12 burger for two with lettuce tomato, a slice of ham and two fried eggs.
He cut it in quarters for us and put them on our own plates. It was delicious but we saved half for dinner. $12 for four filling meals- the best bargain we’ve come across in Argentina and enjoyable too.
Serene back roads south of Mendoza itself.
We were in for a surprise as we parked and walked.
Nice place, good facilities in the hotel, $20 a night but…
…no wine tasting. Lots of vines, a restaurant serving farm grown Malbec wine with dinner but for us hamburger eaters it was a dry night.
Three other travelers suggested this place to Layne but somewhere down the line there was a big wine misunderstanding.
It’s a pretty spot for the night.
And Rusty enjoyed the thick green grass. All in the end was well.
And there are lots more vineyards around.
