Major catchup - Bariloche to BA to Mendoza to Santiago!

Woah, left this WAY too long this time! Will have to give an abridged version of what we´ve been up to.

The five days we had left over in Bariloche were great. Being back at Hostel 41 Below was great. So relaxed there and as before, Veronica and Hernan were great to hang out with. Did an awesome walk near El Bolson.

Headed back to BA and stayed in San Telmo this time. On a recommendation stayed in Hostel Pax. Beds pretty average, but had a nice bar down in the basement and the people were pretty decent (though perhaps a few too many yanks (average age 21) playing noisy drinking games. Reckon I must be getting old and grumpy! One guy from Scotland was robbed at knife point just a block from the hostel. Bit of a wake up call after having wandered around on my own at night plenty of times.

Went back to Bahrein but didn´t have much of a good night. Also went to the much vaunted La Cabrera. MASSIVE steaks, but didn´t live up to the Parrilla Pena (still my fav to date).

Caught the bus over to Mendoza and were hit by 40 degrees heat and loads of sunshine. Just what the doctor ordered! Tonsils started playing up again so I went to the hospital and got some antibiotics. Was recommended not to drink for 8 days - afraid that was never going to happen!

Mendoza was great and the hostel the best we´ve been to so far. Hostel Lao is run by Mike (a brit) and his Argentinian wife. REally great atmosphere, amazing garden with hammocks all over and just a seriously nice place to hang out and relax. Hardly went out into town in the evenings as the hostel was so nice. They give out free red wine most nights - nice!

Stayed for a weekish, then went for a 3 day trek. Absolutely amazing. The toughest trek we´d done so far. Wicked guide called Fernando (can you hear the drums?!) who took us some seriously high mountains. Made all our previous treks look like a walk in the park. Last day we went up San Bernardo - something like 4,500 metres. Both got some altitude sickness on the way down, Hector getting it worse than me, feeling properly sick and all that.

Back at Mendoza we´d been travelling together for something like 8 weeks and it was clear we needed some time apart. I´ve headed over to Santiago and am having a great time. Everyone told us Santiago was rubbish, but I´ve not found it so. Main highlights have been the Mercado Central. If you like seafood and shellfish you´ll absolutely LOVE this place. I was in heaven. Ceviche - yum!!! Plus all kinds of weird shellfish I´d never seen before. Giant Barnacles anyone???! Ha!

Met some really nice people and headed over to Valparaiso and Vina Del Mar yesterday. HIGHLY recommended. Great street art / graffiti all over the place and could easily have stayed for a few days with all the great seafood (again!) and funky little shops up on the hills. Colour everywhere - pink, blue, green, etc houses, steps, walls, roofs. REally an amazing place and will probs come back when I´m passing through Santiago on the way back up.

Tonight I head down to Pucon for fishing and hopefully to climb up the active volcano they have. Apparently you can peer down into the centre and see lava bubbling away and get blinded by sulphurous fumes! Cool!!!

Gotta go now. More later, T

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