The Andes!

I remember once having a dream about the Andes, the vast mountain range that stretches between Chile and Argentina like a long, jagged backbone. In the dream, these mountains were wild; brown-green valleys and black jagged peaks set against a sky of vivid blue and tumultuous grey clouds. Far below me in a valley, a river wound lazily through the peaks and a small town lay nestled in the crook of a huge black volcano. In my dream, the Andes seemed remote and surreal. When I woke up, the images floated away into the dim recesses of my mind. I did not think of the Andes as solid ground. I did not think of them as accessible to me.

Yesterday, I rode in a rented chevy (2 wheel drive) all the way from Mendoza to the Chilean border. Along the way, I stopped to gaze in awe at Aconcagua, the tallest peak outside of the Himalayas; at Inca point, where multi-colored mineral waters flow over rocky ridges and swirl around ancient dwellings; and to Christo Redemptor, a historic statue 4000 meters above sea level straddling the now defunct dizzy switchbacks of the old border crossing. At this final destination, I stood in the icy cold wind and looked out at the Andes. Below me, brown-green valleys collided with jagged, snowy black peaks that scraped a brilliant blue sky studded with swirling grey clouds. The river wound a lazy path through the pass and a small mountain settlement perched precariously at the base of a massive landslide. I had an overwhelming sense of deja vu. It is not everyday that my dream-world collides so powerfully with the present.

The Andes look just as I pictured them, which is a truly rare occurrence for a traveler. Usually, reality is so different from the pictures, thrown off by the small details like the strong smell of feces (the Taj Mahal), or something big like a massive coal mine or logging operation. So many grand places lose scale in person, or are disturbed irrevocably by the passage of time. For me, the Andes were a powerful experience of awe and delight. Driving through the impossible tunnels, seeing the massive glaciers atop ancient and incredible peaks was truly a unique experience I will never forget. Luckily, we took hundreds of epic pictures so that you too, can dream of the Andes and maybe one day stand as I did, looking down with a nauseating sense of deja vu at your dream come true.

That's all for tonight. I think the more mundane details of my life here are unworthy to share space with the Andes. Another post, another time. Good night.