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Published: October 16th 2006
Well we haven't updated our blog for a while...it's been a little manic. Let's backtrack a bit and go back to just after we left Bariloche on 27 September.
We got another 20 hr bus journey northwards up the Western border of Argentina to Mendoza. We'd heard mixed reports - some people told us it was very boring. We couldn't disagree more! Mendoza is beautiful and tranquil with lots of leafy pedestrian streets, cafes and parks. It's also wonderfully sunny and warm. We stayed in a fantastic hostel - so friendly and we made some great travel buddies. First came Rosie (a doctor from Tufnell Park - where Ally lives!). Next there was Brian (an Irish engineer). And finally there was Ben (a newly qualified solicitor at Lovell's - Amelia's law firm!) Mendoza is the wine capital of Argentina so we decided to cycle round the various vineyards in nearby Maipu. Amelia, Ally, Rosie and Brian set off to do some serious wine tasting. We made it to one 'bodega' and did a tasting before cycling to a beautiful Deli+restaurant thing for lunch. It was full of very classy Argentinians on long lunchbreaks...who were less than impressed with our "just got
Wine tasting
L-R: Brian, Rosie, Amelia, Allyoff our bikes in the midday sun" look. After a delicious lunch we cycled off to the Chocolate and Liqueur factory. Tasted some seriously random liqueurs and ate loads of chocolates. Was a slightly haphazard but great day!
The next day (complete with hangovers) we headed off for a trek in the Andes. It said in the brochure that it was suitable for 7 yr olds so we thought we could just about make it. The scenery was stunning...our fitness less so. And poor Rosie managed to lose her very precious digital camera en route so we all retraced our steps to see if we could find it. Unfortunately it was lost to the Andes. However our Guides and Scouts skills came to the fore...we were looking for footprints and leaving bits of paper to retrace our steps. Totally ridiculous but we managed not to lose ourselves forever in the Andes which is probably quite a feat.
Mendoza is just across the border from Santiago. We hadn't heard anything good about it but thought we couldn't really come to Mendoza and not see Santiago.
So we took an overnight bus across the Andes. We were stopped for the border at
3am - a totally bizarre affair involving sniffer dogs who seemed to be primarily searching for fruit (they have a real problem with taking it across the border!) We were also trying to look after an Irish girl called April who we met on the bus - she was being touched up by the disgusting Argentine man in the seat next to her. He wrote her a love letter - apparently he wasn't an "exterminator" but only wanted to "keep her warm". Urgh.
Let's just say Santiago lived up to word on the street. Smoggy, bland, busy and dismal. Notably we took the funicular up the hill on the outskirts to see the "view". Apparently Santiago is surrounded by the Andes...although it mostly seemed to be surrounded by smog. Weirdly we're glad we went - mostly because we managed to get some cheap lapis earrings. Small pleasures.
We were happy to return to Mendoza 2 days later to find our friends again. Rosie joined us for the long journey up to Salta in North-West Argentina on 4 October. More about that in the next instalment!
Thanks for reading! xxx
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Cousin Alan
non-member comment
Oh Danny Boy . . .
One suspects that Danny Boy might work for the Chilean Tourist Board (no offense), but it's good to keep an open mind. L.A.'s much nicer when the smog clears too. Sounds like the trip of a lifetime! Keep up the good work. Love, Cousin Alan.