24.2.2008 (Mendoza):

The border controls were a bit confusing, but in the end we had enough pieces of papers with various stamps on them, had our passports stamped several times and were sent on our way. Noone was really interested in Tarmo, one lady just asked if we had the necessary documents. We said yes and that was sufficient. 
From the border you can see the nearby mountain Aconcagua, with its 6.960m the highest mountain outside Asia. We spent a day walking around the area, looking at the colourful mountains around us. Apparently there are 7 colours, I could see only 6: red, orange, yellow, white, brown and green. 
But even lacking a colour, the area is beautiful. We had a great long, very long downhill peddle against the wind, all the time with spectacular scenery around us. This looks like the Andes you expect to see!
At the moment we are in the city Mendoza to get some things sorted out before we head up north. 

 6.3.2008 (Chilecito):

We have hit the dry and hot zones.
After Mendoza we had two days of cycling through a very wet area. Everywhere there were huge puddles, canals, rivers and loads of mos quitos. We couldnt stop anywhere longer than a minute without being covered with them. After the second day I had more than 80 bites! Even when we were cycling pretty fast they managed to somehow attack us. Cycling in over 30 degrees centigrade heat with long clothes on is no fun. 
But then we arrived in the dry and hot  zone. So more heat , but no mosquitos. Just the odd scorpion or tarantula on the way...
We visited two national parks on the way. Not the nice green  nationalparks with blue lakes that we had seen so far, but  dry, rocky, stoney, hot kind of national park. Wi th a lot of cactuses and  interesting rock formations. A few spots resembled more the landscape on the moon then  down here. Guess that is why the national park was called "Valle de la Luna" (valley of the moon).
We are now back on the famous route 40, famous as it stretches nearly 5.000km from north to south  and also because it was the route that Che Guevara travelled along on the motorbike.

19.3.2008 (Salta):

We are currently in the northern city Salta. Although we were expecting hot weather (the cactuses do kind of indicate that), the weather has been moderate. We have rain very often at night and clouds during the day. Someone could of told us that it is rainy season...
We had to cross a few rivers that spilt over the roads, but nothing too hairy. Tarmos box got flooded, that is about as bad as it got. 
We have overhauled our bikes, ready for th ebad roads in Bolivia. Now we only have to get up there, another 2.500 meters of altitude on top of the 1.000 meters that we are at now. Piece of cake...
We had a beautiful cycle towards the city, through canyon-like landscape, red high rock formations and a nice river valley.
In a couple of days we will head up to Bolivia...

28.3.2008 (La Chiaca):

We are now at the bolivian border and will be crossing it tomorrow. 
The last few days have been amazing. We had one great day of cycling through rain forest like surroundings, before hitting the colourful mountain region again. Slowly we cycled up to 3.780m, now we are back down at 3.440m. A constant up and down, but at least it is not too hot. Tarmo has to run a bitmore now, which he seems more than willing to do. Especially in the mornings it is pretty cold. We need gloves and jumpers for the first two hours. 
We feel like we are already in Bolivia. There are loads of lamas next to the road, the women are wearing colourful clothes and carry their kids on their backs AND: they are smaller then me! There are also more mud huts now.