La Difunta Correa is a semi-mythical folk heroine who has been adopted by travellers as a patron saint, even though the Catholic Church hasn't recognised her. The story goes that she was following her husband who was fighting the Spanish for Argentinian independence, and died of thirst crossing the desert. Several days later her body was found by passing gauchos, her baby son still alive and suckling from her corpse's breast. Roadside shrines are built and honoured by truckers and other travellers, who leave bottles of water as offerings to quench her eternal thirst in return for a safe journey. Maybe we should've left some too...
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