I took a bus tour to Alta Montana where the guide explained all in both English and Spanish. It was great for me because I could listen to the English explanation to get the general idea and the Spanish explanation to fill in the details, and re-check again by listening to the English version and asking more questions. The geography of Mendoza, Anconcagua and the Andes The tour started with the artificial lake created to act as a reservoir to supply water to all the people in Mendoza which then is brought down from the mountains and then transported through open canals which pass through each street in the city. It was built in 2005. This lake is the only source of water for people in Mendoza and in right now in the summer months ... read more

The Argentinians I’ve met so far all look European and have French or Italian names. Generally the Argentinian people I've met seem to be very expressive, they love to talk about everything and anything, are inquisitive and very curious about Europeans. It is rumoured that Argentinians favourite hobby is reading and it seems true. There are bookshops everywhere. Argentina makes Spain look like the dark ages as people here seem to me so forward thinking in comparison to Spain and seem to look more to the future than be held back by tradition. However, it is such a shame that the currency is not a good one at the moment because I feel like this nation holds a lot of potential, has a good mind set with what I would call modern values and a real ... read more

Today I planned as much as my itinerary as possible, contacted friends and family, re-packed my luggage, updated my travel blog, prepared my docuents for the next few border crossings and ate spaghetti in an Italian restaurant where I watched the breaking news about a famous ‘Fiscal’ who had been found dead this morning in his apartment. It is believed that the government had killed him and covered it up to make it look like suicide. The ‘Fiscal’ was due to speak out and to tell an important government secret related to Israeli attacks and the government’s part in it. Whilst I was in the kitchen in the hostel talking to my Dad on skype about Bolivia a French couple overheard my conversation and gave me advice about the next part of my trip. They had ... read more

Today I spent the day in Alta Gracia – a town about one hour away from Cordoba by bus. It’s a beautiful town at the foothills of the mountains with a little river running through it where lots of holidaymakers were camping, sunbathing and kids were playing in the stream. I’d gone to Alta Gracia specifically to visit Che Guevara’s childhood home. I walked over a bridge and up a hill through winding and shady streets lined with houses on either side (many were made in the French style) until I found Che Guevara’s house and the museum of Che which was one of them. Once I got there I went to look for something to eat before taking in the history of Che. Whilst looking for a place to eat I asked an Argentinian man ... read more

This morning after finding out that I could easily get back to Cordoba by bus from the festival in Jesus Maria at any hour of the night, I set out to buy my tickets to the gaucho show this evening. I queued in a well air-conditioned shopping centre in Cordoba for nearly an hour to buy my ticket at the auto-entrada. In the afternoon I travelled to Jesus Maria by omnibus. The journey took one hour and passed through beautiful green pampas and when arriving into Jesus Maria the streets were dotted with parillas – barbecues. Once I arrived at Jesus Maria bus station I found a Pizzeria and had a delicious Pizza Mozzarella cooked on an open fire. I walked to the festival where the squares were lined with stalls selling gaucho related products including ... read more