Evening star., 1938-12-18

OF articles on South America
by Mrs. Pierson, 1D1,o recently re-
turned to Washington from
trip OF more than 1900 miles
oUer the southern continent)
BY ELEANOR PERSON.
The flight across Argentina and
the Andes Mountains into Chile is
a trip that hardly can be excelled
for thrillingly beautiful scenery.
The Panagra plane leaves Buenos
Aires at 9 am. and for the first four
hours flies across the pampas Of
the Argentine. Passengers gaze
down on mile after mile of fertile
plains which gradually give way to
desert country. There are two stops
before reaching the mountains, CIV
ing one glimpse of the cities of
Cordoba and Mendoza. Soon after
leaving Mendoza the vast range of
the Andes looms on the horizon
and then begins such a spectacular
| flight as few persons can imagine.
A trip over the worlds highest
commercial airway is, indeed, an
| adventure. 1t is far cry from the
old days, when Andean stage
coaches drawn by four horses driven
abreast, were the method of making
this perilous trip. Flying is in
finitely safer than were the danger
Gus mountain roads, for every pre-
caution is taken. An observation
station is maintained at the sum-
nit and no ship is allowed to take
off until weather conditions give
assurance of clear passage all
along the route.
The big Douglas climbs to an alti-
tude of about 10000 to cross the
main range. Passengers and pilots
are equipped with oxygen tubes to
counteract the possible effects of
the altitude (although the average
passenger rarely has need of this
artificial stimulant. Electric heat
ers warm the interior of the plane
as one gazes out on the ice heights,
and safety belts are fastened
against the bumps of any sudden
gust of air currents This is noun
tain climbing de luxe!
The ship follows the age-old
route of the Uspallata Pass, and
the SUBMITS of Aconcagua and
Tupungato rear their heads so close
by that a remarkable view of the
terrain is obtained. Aconcagua is
the highest peak in the New World
A mile below, in the shadowy notch
of Uspallata, the famous Christ
of the Andes lifts His cross,
statue commemorating the peace
full settlement of boundary dis
pute between Argentina and Chile.
Mountains Frame Santiago.
The thrilling fight is over all
too soon-the crossing of the noun
tains taking less than two hours
and then the plane circles down
into the fertile valley and pas
sengers disembark at Santiago. This
city nestles in a narrow plain be-
tween the Pacific Ocean and the
Andes, the mountains forming q
dramatic background for the town.
The people of Santiago de Chile
are gay and friendly-a factor con-
tributing to the pleasure of visitors
The hotels are good and prices are
reasonable. A comfortable room at
the Crillon or Ritz Hotel costs about
| So a day. The only thing in Chile
that is unusually expensive is i'm
ported whisky, but the wine of the
country is excellent, especially the
famous vino Undurraga.
Strolling along the Alameda, tour
lists are impressed with this 35O-foot
wide boulevard that cuts through
the heart of the city, with land
scaped promenade down the center
reserved for pedestrians. Statues
and fountains beautify the intersec-
tions, the Presidents Palace is an
attractive focal point. and the big
open-air flower market is beehive
of activity and kaleidoscope of color,
for the Chileans love elaborate floral
decorations. Ragged little urchins
exhort the passer-by to have his
zapatoS shined. Ut is a favorite
habit of the Latin American to
| stand one-legged on the curbing,
staring at the passing crowds while
his shoes are being brightly polished)
Continuing up the Alameda, one
climbs to lovely Cerro de Santa
Lucia. The view of the city and of
the Andes beyond is remarkable
from this beautiful park on the sum-
NIT of the hill. The statue of that
hard old soldier Pedro Valdivia, one
Of the "conquistadores' of Chile and
the founder of Santiago. looks down
on loving couples strolling arm-in-
arm along the shady, Towering
| paths.
Many Scenic Drives.
| There are many scenic and in
spring drives around Santiago
which no visitor should miss. The
parks are numerous and the Club
Hipico is one of the worlds most
strikingly located race tracks. The
Country Club offers a good course
for golf addicts and a marvellous
panorama of the countryside, with
snow-capped Aconcagua keeping
sentinel overs the valley.
Chileans love night life, too, and
the Ritz Tap Room Is a favorite
rendezvous for those who want to
dine and dance, while gourmets
gather at Chez Robert for delicious
sea food.
Motoring over to the coast to visit
the busy seaport of Valparaiso is a
pleasant 3-hour drive through
country strongly reminiscent of
California.
The old town of Nalnar L.