Argentina...Reflections

Vanessa before the wine took control

It was a hot and sunny Valentine's Day when we finally managed to leave Santiago in Chile and return to Argentina, a spectacular 45 minute flight across the Andes to the city of Mendoza where 70% of the country's excellent wine is produced. It’s therfore an absolute crime not to hire a bike and cycle off to some local vineyards to sample the goods.

Many tour companies offer these local trips and our particular favourite was the seductively named Wanka Tours who have the fabulous strapline, ‘we’ve got everything covered’. We clearly couldn’t book it through them for the fear of laughing too much when they came to collect us in their big Wanka minibus.

Three wineries were on our list and and several glasses passed our lips before thankfully the bikes were strapped back on the back of the van as everyone’s cycling was becoming a little too erratic.

Mendoza itself is a sizeable city with not much to do but it does have many wide, tree lined avenues which make it a great place to stroll around and spend a few hours in one of the numerous street side bars and cafes. As we sat in one of these particular establishments one hot, balmy evening, Vanessa tucking into a cheese omelette and me with a slab of steak, we were continuously being disturbed by 12 beauty queens who kept parading up and down whilst feeding us grapes. Quite bizarre and of course, very annoying.
 

We’re in a strange period at the moment of 24 continuous days in bustling, hot cities so we’re making the most of the small pool at the hostel and the hot weather to relax and reflect upon our trip so far, particularly as South America is coming to an end with a week here in Mendoza and a final couple of days back in Santiago.

Argentina has been a bit disjointed as we couldn’t get back into the country from Chile very easily and like many of the more developed countries, it’s been surprisingly frustrating at times, particularly with food and places closing and opening at the most random times. However, the people have been incredibly friendly and the weather hot and sunny so we couldn’t do anything but enjoy every minute of it.

DAYS SPENT:   14

TRANSPORT:  1 plane, 3 buses, 3 taxis, 1 bike

NUMBER OF PLACES WE STAYED:  4 (3 hostels, 1 hotel)

ITEMS LOST/BROKEN:  none

FAVOURITE EATERY:  Don Mario's in Mendoza

WILDLIFE SPOTTED: llamas, vicunas, mangy dogs

TOURS TAKEN:   Salt Flats/Purmamarca, Bike & Wine Tour in Mendoza

BEST VALUE FOR MONEY:  Chimbas Hostel in Mendoza with great facilities to cook for ourselves and know what we’re eating