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Hello All!
Yes we are behind with this again!
So Mendoza....
TUESDAY
We arrived in Mendoza about 8am, and after some confusion regarding our free hostel transfer, we got a taxi to our hostel, and was kindly reimbursed! The hostel was nice, they let us eat breakfast when we arrived and were able to check into our room straightaway. Nice little room, two bunkbeds and just us in it! Even had our own little veranda, shame about the lack of a proper flush on the toilet....
Crashed until 1pm, where we woke up to get ready for the football BBQ (where Argentina were playing Greece). We walked with the manager of our hostel to the sister hostel, closer to the town centre. We all were seated on a big table with screens at each end for the match. We had a big BBQ (which was cooked inside) with lots of potato salad, chorizo and salad! was very good! the match was good fun too, Argentina won of course, and was good fun to look out from the balcony, with everyone going mental in the streets below! Also got talking to a couple of lads from the US (Josh and Daniel) and an Englsih couple, both of whom warned us against doing the wine tours organised by the hostel.
Following this advice, we went back to the hostel to research independant tours on the net and sorted out the blog etc. By the time we had done this (I dont think you realise what an effort this blog can be sometimes folks) It was really late and we headed off to find something to eat. Found a nice little place for some good pasta. We were both so tired atfer this, we just went straight to bed!
WEDNESDAY
Woke up a litte later than planned - but guess we needed the sleep! As we ate breakfast we realised that we had got the time of the England match wrong, and instead of playing in the afternoon, they were playing in the morning! so we sat and watched the match at the hostel, with an old Argentinian guy, who for some reason hates Argentina but loves England? Anyway, he got very very excited at the game! and also went rather crazy when he nipped outside and a bird pooed on his shoulder! England scored soon after this, so it must be true that its good luck! The guy went crazy when the goal went in! He actually picked us up! England won so all was good!
After this we went for a walk round the city centre, again very pretty and realy nice big squares, but all the towns and buildings seem to be blendng into one! We bumped into a guy from our hostel (Sebastian) who joined us in our walk to the main road with all the bars and resturants in search of something to eat. After trapsing round, we settled on another litle Italian place, (more pasta) and some more people from the hostel joined us (although didnt really speak to them!) The guy who ran the restaurant (Paul) was lovely and gave us a free glass of champers to celebrate his anniversary!
After this, we walked with Seb round the massive San Martin park, to the lake, where we sat and chatted. Seb wanted to go and see some big monument thing at the other end of the park, we werent really keen as we had already walked miles at this point and it was getting dark! The wind was really picking up and luckily someome advised Seb that this was creating a sandstorm at the monument, so we gave it a miss! phew! Still, was a lovely autumn day, quite warm and leaves blowing all about! very romantic! Shame J and M werent there!
Went back to the hostel and chilled ready for the Pizza Party at our hostel. We had a rubbish caipirinhas (out of a bottle) and all sat round with people from other hostels waiting for our pizza! this inclued two very crazy guys from France! pizza was not that great, bit soggy and all tasted the same! Some rather cheeky girl from Argentina commented "I think you eat more than me" despite her having the EXACT same number of slices! and kept picking bits off the empty trays! cheeky mare!
The hostel then started with the free tequila, usually B is a massive fan of the mexican stuff, but we had planned to do the wine tour the next day so only had the one shot. Spoke to a couple of pre-uni lads from Bristol before leaving the rowdy crowd to their tequila and left over pizza. As we were checking the internet, we were interuppted by the two French guys, one who physically climbed upstairs to bed, the other who started smoking, then propmptly headed to the bathroom to be sick. We took this as our cue and went to bed.
THURSDAY
Wine tour day! Trekked to the bus station and got our ticket to Maipu (pronounced My Poo! heehee! snigger snigger!) We were dropped off at Mr Hugos bike rentals where we were greeeted by Mrs Hugo, who sent us on our way with our bikes, a botle of water and a map. Turns out you dont forget how to ride a bike - which is a good thing considering how far it is between all the wineries!
Arrived at the first one - Trapiche - which is a industrial winery who export to the UK. We had to wait a little while for our tour, which started with a video on the history of the winery. After this our guide took us to a very swanky tasting room. As she was preparing our wines, we were joined by a group of roudy English people! They were very funny though! especially Yebs, who proved that the hair on his jumper was not of the pubic variety by eating it. Surprisingly he had visted Warrington and asked us about Mr Smiths!
We learnt how to taste wine (video to follow) and tried to identify different smells and tastes. Apparently this comes with practice! All the wines were nice, particualry the white wine, which B will be keeping her eye out for back home! Feeling a little bit tipsy, we cycled the two or so miles to the next place, where we were greeted with vigorous hugs and kisses by Chrisitian. Who was a bit of a loon! Sat out on the lovely balcony, overlooking the snowy Andes and the vineyards. Decided to give our new found tasting skills a try so tried 6 wines, all red to see what we could identify. Not much as it turns out, but was good fun trying! Following an invitation to dinner by Christian we left. Briefly stopped at the place over the road, but couldnt see anything of much interest, apart from the dog with mahussive balls.
Cycled to the next family run place, where we stopped for something to eat. We both went for the special - Argentinan stew - which was delicous, despite the number of beans! Had to wait a while for the next tour, but our guide (Jessica) was lovely and very knowledgeable so was worth it. More tasting. Think we had both had our fill of white wine but the dessert wine we tried was lovely. We were told that we wouldnt make it to the chocolate/liquor factory in time (gutted!), so we conceded and sat and chatted with Yebs and the English and Mark and Aaron, two Auzzies. We all decided that we would pay the extra fee and leave our bikes at the winery and get the bus back to Mendoza.
Rather exciting bus ride back. Bus did not give way at a crossroads, and to avoid a major collision, mounted the curb and swiped a tree, causing a massive branch to smash up the front of the bus before landing on top of a moving Ford KA! Very dramatic! Looking at the map, it appeared that we were near our hostel so we decided to walk the rest of the way. This was obviously a mistake when we realised that we werent actually on the map at all, and in fact werent even in Mendoz but the neighbouring town! We all got taxis back and arranged to meet up at a bar later.
We had planned to go to Santiago in Chile for a few days, but the pass keeps closing and we didnt want to get stranded so we looked at the net for other options. Despite not being particularly into our wintersports, we decided to do somehting different and settled on the tiny ski resort of Los Penintentes.
Quickly got ready and got a taxi to a recommneded Mexican restaurant, near to the bar where were meeting Ybes, Emma, Simon, Anna, Mark and Aaron. Bumped into Daniel and josh the US guys from the BBQ who said they might meet us out later (they overslept and never made it out!) we shared some fajitas which were lovely and came with all different accompaniments, we also ordered a bottle of wine from Trapiche! Felt very much the experts!
Eventually found the bar where we were meeting everyone (minus Simon who had gone to bed) and sat drinking mojitos and swapping stories with Yebs, who is hilarious! after this, Yebs and Anna dropped Emma off home and the Auzzies went to get some food.
We went to a rather expensive little bar and sat outside waiting for the return of Yebs and Anna. More mojitos and more chatting! We then tried to find a more lively bar, perhaps with a dancefloor, but after several attempts we had no luck! We finally settled on the "Exxtreme Bar" which wasnt very "exxtreme" at all! More mojitos!
Got a text from the Auzzies so set off walking downtown to meet them. We stopped for an amazing hotdog on the way, with a choice of about 50 toppings, including crisps! v good! and cheap! found the Auzzies in a very dingy pool bar. We all had a go and had a good laugh and competition, but Mark and Aaron took it very seriously! Must be an Auzzy thing! As always, an old guy took a shine to Tiff and bought her a drink (blue lagoon) which would have been more appreciated if it didnt taste like petrol. Tiff said thanks by having her photo taken with him! Before we realised it was 5am and it was time to get a taxi home! Bumped into Seb who was still up at the hostel - was his birthday!
FRIDAY
Woke up at 9.30 am to check out. Thought we were dying. Very hungover, very tired! Ate breakfast and got one night free at the hostel for writing a good review! Decided we needed some warmer clothes for our upcoming trip so headed into town for shopping. Felt terrible, and B felt worse on news of Halliwells administration! Cheered up a litle bit on buying a big warm lama wool jumper and T finally mananged to find some leggings! Stopped at little cafe for lunch. B had mileneasa, T a steak sandwich. Staggered back to the hostel where we felt so dreadful we got a taxi to the bus station!
Hope to have pics up v soon ppl! Computer here wont let us do it!
Not long now till we are back!!
Miss you all lots!
B&T
xx
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