4-Xtremes – Part 67: Finally back on the road again!

Series: 4-Xtremes – The World Tour

Back in the rolling home.

Let’s go! Andrea and Mike collect their Axor at the Port of Montevideo. Read for yourself whether the truck survived the Atlantic crossing unscathed – and where the first leg of the South American tour is heading.

Finally back on the road after many weeks – and to Mercedes it’s "only" 144 kilometres.


The Obelisco de Buenos Aires is an impressive monument. Like a giant pencil, it rises up almost 70 metres into the sky and marks the centre of Argentina’s capital. Argentina? Yes, we've covered a good distance since we arrived in South America. And rightly so: Our Axor with the "4-Xtremes" and RoadStars logos on the living compartment survived shipping from Hamburg across the Atlantic to Montevideo. 

But trust us: When the time came and we were supposed to collect the truck in the port of Uruguay’s capital, we were really tense. The ship with the Axor arrived on a Friday. But since customs don't work over the weekend, we had to be patient. On Saturday, we were even drawn to the harbour – in the hope of maybe catching a glimpse of our home through a fence.


Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.
Vehicle check outside Montevideo – and colonial charm in Colonia del Sacramento.

Paper after paper at the port administration.

We are in the first office at 9.30 sharp on Monday. We get the shipping documents, and I, Andrea, get permission to enter the port with Mike, the vehicle owner. We are then ushered through a number of offices and get more papers, which are stamped and signed. Everything runs like clockwork and the customs officers are nice. You just need patience.

Around noon we are allowed to enter the port area – and just miss the agent: Lunch break. That means a two hour wait. The area looks pretty shabby. We decide not to let that unnerve us, because here too, the staff make an above-board and competent impression. Then everything happens very quickly: With the next piece of paper in our hands, we are allowed to go to the vehicle depot. At last we can get to our truck.


Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.
Across the river to Argentina – and then into the maze of bridges and streets of Buenos Aires.

High tension in the vehicle warehouse.

We open the doors with sweat on our brows. This is it! It quickly becomes clear that everything is fine. Unfortunately, not all vehicle owners were so lucky. On "our" ship there were 20 other vehicles, four of which were damaged or stolen from. The "paper game" continues – and when we finally roll out of the port premises, it’s 5 pm.

We pick up our suitcases from the apartment we've rented for a short time and get out of the city! We fill the water tanks at a gas station and park next to the trucks. Get the living box ready for sleep and then it’s time to relax.

There's an anxious moment the next morning: The solar output is too low. Is something broken? Mike climbs onto the roof and can give the all-clear: The solar panels got dirty on the ship, that's all. So to wash the truck before we move on – to a quiet place where we spread out the contents of our suitcases and stow everything in the vehicle. Now we’re really ready to go.


Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.
Despite Argentina’s economic problems, in many places Buenos Aires is colourful in the best sense of the word – and the tango is actually danced in the streets.

Long distances in sparsely populated regions.

The first trip takes us along the Rio de la Plata, around 180 kilometres to Colonia del Sacramento. The small town is considered to be Uruguay’s oldest, founded in 1680 by the Portuguese. Bumpy cobbled streets, colonial buildings – you feel like you've been transported back in time. And when the weather is good, if you look across the Rio, which is many kilometres wide here at its mouth, you can see Buenos Aires, our next destination.

As we all know, things are very close together in Europe. This is why we'll have to get used to the longer distances here. In countries as sparsely populated as Uruguay and Argentina, there can be a few hundred kilometres drive to the next large town. Upstream from Colonia del Sacramen to the Puente Libertador General San Martín, the border bridge to Argentina, is a good 200 kilometres. And they lead through seemingly endless arable land.


Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.
Deserted: In the early hours of the morning, a metropolis like Buenos Aires, which is extremely bustling during the day, is particularly easy to explore.

Busy streets in Buenos Aires.

The formalities for entering Argentina are short and painless. After just 30 minutes, we roll onto the bridge, which is up to 45 metres high and almost 3.5 kilometres long. The next day we reach Buenos Aires. It's frenetically busy on the streets of the 15 million people metropolis. Navigation is difficult at first. At some point we will find a parking spot on a promenade in the rather chic district of Puerto Madero. We can leave the Axor alone for a few hours here with a clear conscience.

We can also take a stroll from here on foot. We visit the San Telmo district, where you can buy everything from vegetables to antiques at the market. There are small restaurants in between. Tango is actually being danced on the Plaza in front of the market, and we watch enthralled. We enjoy the warm evening and let the ambience work its magic on us.


Nearby, we find a parking spot to stay overnight – and can set off early the next morning on foot. Whether on the modern pedestrian bridge of Puente de la Mujer or in front of Argentina’s historic Presidential Palace, the Casa Rosada: The metropolis, so bustling during the day, is still deserted. We take a break at the Obelisk – and are already looking forward to the next milestone. It's "at the end of the world".


4-Xtremes – The World Tour.

An unparalleled journey.

Andrea and Mike Kammermann have been on tour in their Axor for three years. "4-Xtremes – The World Tour" is the motto of the journey that the two Swiss nationals embarked on in mid-2020 and which they share with the RoadStars community. Keep up to date and don't miss out on any of the stunning destinations visited by the adventurous pair.

You can find the current parts from the “4-Xtremes – The World Tour” series here.

You can find the route of the trip before the crossing to South America here.

 


Photos: 4-Xtremes

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