Crossing the Andes with snowballs and Mendosa

South America
June 15th 2009

Published: July 6th 2009

Edit Blog Post

Bartoni

Crossing the Andes

...we were nearing Portillo where Brim was anxious to check out the potential ski-ing

8am bus from Valparaiso to Mendosa. Bus company was El Rapidio and our conductor/driver Samuel certainly made for an eventful trip 😊 he was brilliant fun, He liked the English chicas, making sure we were happy, winking at s between the seats and singing along to the Spanish DVD playing on the bus TV. In fact, as we crossed over the Andes he made the bus stop so we could get out of the bus and take pictures of the snow capped Andes...even throwing some snowballs at us whilst the locals had a cigarette break and smiled at the gringos taking their piccies!! The view was spectacular and Brim was very excited that the local ski centre finally had some snow for the adventurers 😊 slightly scary however when the driver decided to overtake lorries and over coaches on the winding mountain path despite the ice the roads and sheer drop bends! Just over the top of the mountains however we reached the Chile/Argentina border control. Samuel took great delight in telling the customs officials that he was married to myself and Brim and deeply in love!! Thankfully they took it on good spirits, stamped our passports and let us continue

Samuel our new best friend!!

...yes he threw snowballs at us :)

to Mendosa.
Following the coolness of Chile, Mendosa was sunny and warm so we could wander without coats again! We found Hostel Lao where we were staying and found the local supermarket for provisions. Big Argentinan steak, bread and salad for dinner 😊 Herman, the hostel manager made us feel very welcome and informed us of the local wine tours and area. The hostel was really lively with lots of guests and a BBQ that we were a bit late to join in. Brim however located a big enough pan and we had our own mini BBQ in the evening much to everyone else's amazement!
Next day, breakfast of beautiful pastries, jam and bread and we took our bus lift to the start of the bikes and wines tour in the local village of Maipu 😊 This time we were assured the bike riding was flat and no wind! After grabbing our bikes and map (a photocopied leaflet on one road and a few side roads) we headed to the wine museum for first tour and tasting. The wine tour was really interesting, the guide speaking in both Spanish and English. We were shocked to find out how little the

Another city another bike ride!

grape pickers were paid for each huge basket of grapes they picked. As the only free wine on offer was a strong red, Brim and I re-mounted our trusty wheels and set off the 11km or so to the next winery. The weather was beautiful, and as we cycled on the right hand side there was a beautiful view of the Andes in the distance. Both of us agreeing that it was certainly the best way to spend a Tuesday rather than in an office in England! 😊 The next winery was smaller scale but the manager was really nice and knowledgeable. We tasted a number of wines and sat in the sunshine. Across the road we stopped for our steak sandwiches and went on the olive tour which was a bit disappointing. Having seen the olive trees the guide took us on a very quick route march of the olive processing with machines and bottling and then a platter of olives, sun dried tomatoes and olive oil covered stale French style bread. Olive tasting over it was back on our bikes along the road to the third winery of the day! No tour here but we paid 15 pesos

The beautiful open road

for a couple of glasses of wine (Brim choosing the white Chardonnay and me choosing the sparkling type) and we again we sat in the sunshine supping our drinks watching the world and wineries go by! As the afternoon was creeping by we were back on the bikes to my favourite part of the day - the chocolate factory 😊 a huge host of chocolate liqueurs and chocolates taste, including various flavoured chocolate spreads :0 very sweet BUT very good! Sickly tastes in our mouths we biked the last few mks back to the start and handed back our bikes! The tour agency arranged a taxi back to Mendosa city - not an official taxi but a guy in this bad boy racer Fiat who sped along behind the local police car into the city. A good day followed by salami and pasta for dinner and alferjones (Argentina shortbread type biscuits with ducle de leche and coconut) yummy 😊
Next day, Theresa a Kiwi who we met at the hostel came with us to get the bus ticket to Salta. We wandered into the Mendosa park where the local service personnel of police, fire and ambulance were having some celebration