In rural Argentina, the importance of saints is clearly evident in everyday life. This is seen in the abundance of roadside shrines.

I have learned a lot about these saints and other issues in Argentinian life from Juan one of our staff from Buenos Aires. He is a history teacher for his “real job” and has been remarkably kind and helpful. He also has the best hat on the tour.

The shrines dot the roadsides and vary from elaborate to very simple. Some of the saints are officially canonized by the Catholic church but we most often see shrines for “folk saints”, who are very important in local culture.

One is Gaucho Gil or Gauchito Gil. He was born around 1840 and was conscripted to fight in two local wars. After he deserted, he became an outlaw and is revered as a Robin Hood type character.

His shrines are everywhere and there are offerings of wine, beer, flowers, food and thank you notes left at each one. They are always red and have one or many images.

Another saint that we have seen many shrines for is Difunta Correa meaning the deceased Correa. The legend of the Difunta is that her husband was forcibly taken into the army in 1840 and then abandoned when he became ill. To try to reach him, she took her baby and set off across the desert. Regrettably she died of exposure and dehydration. Days later she was found by gauchos driving their cattle. Miraculously, her baby was found alive still nursing at her “ever-full” breast. We stopped by her major shrine in the village of Vallecito where thousands make pilgrimage every year. Her shrines always include some sort of structure to give her shelter and usually many water bottles.

Jim and I have our own superstitions. Our good friend Richard gave us each a “gremlin bell” for the journey. This lovely little bell tinkles away on our bike bags, keeping away gremlins, scissors in the road, and all other sorts of ills and bad luck. Thank you Richard! They are working well thus far!

Wish us continued good luck. Tomorrow we start our climb across the Andes near the base of Acongagua! We’ll need it!!!