Emily and I are now in Argentina, so I will have to relive the past week for my own benefit as it has been hectic.

Santiago, as I mentioned, albeit breifly, in an earlier journal entry was great with its high standards of living and bustling streets. The street art and performers that on in each plaza and on every corner adds colour to a day spent just meandering around the tree lined avenues of Santiago. Thanks to a very generous present from Tom (brother) and Amy (his girlie) Em and I kicked off our 8 months in style in a nice hotel in Providencia. Providencia was the business district and hence it was quiet, but beautiful.

Santiago has a bizarre addiction to starbucks, which litter every avenue and street in the city district. So it was time to get out of Santiago after just a couple of days and head to the much spoken of city of Valparaiso.

Valparaiso is a port city and literally means Paradise Valley (thanks Croz). The city has more character than we could possibly have hoped for. We arrived late in Valparaiso after short bus ride (3 hours) and at first Valparaiso didn´t strike Em and I that well, it was dirty and hilly and seemed to have a bohemian feel that wasn´t too our liking. But we found a cosy little hostel that helped and from then on we just loved it!

Valparaiso is a combination of Venice, with very narrow streets and tall facades, and San Fransisco, with its costal hills and murials dotting the city. We spent a couple of days here just wondering around and taking it all in. The adjoining city of Vina del Mar wasn´t worth its salt compared to Valparaiso so we spent only an afternoon wandering around there.

Onwards to Mendoza, which is where I write from now. The bus from Valparaiso wound its way up throught the Andes (the mountain range that runs North to South almost the entire length of South America) with its freshly fallen powder snow slowing the journey but adding to the experience. The 8 hour journey was beautiful and continually changing. After our English friend (who we have travelled the last few days with) spotted our bribe on the border to get our bags through, we were back on the way and arrived in Mendoza late but with all our belongings.

Mendoza, is in the shadow of the Andes and has a topography of tuscany, with Poplars and wineries dotting the periphery of the city area. Mendoza as a province has about 1 million residents, but the city district has only 100,000 so it is has small country towns not far from the last. It also produces about 70% of Argentina´s wine. In 1800´s Mendoza was levelled by a massive earthquake and so when it was rebuild they built amazing wide avenues and plazas everywhere to provide safe evacuation locations should the terrible event ever be repeated. So Mendoza also is spectacular to walk around.

Yesterday (30/04) morning over breakfast in our hostel we got chatting to a couple of Frenchies, an Israeli, our Englishfriend and we decided to do a bikes and wine tour together. Had a great afternoon visiting wineries, plus a chocolaterie and an olive oil factory in sublime weather in a truly splendid setting.

Today is a national holiday in Argentina so everything is closed, and other than a street protest - the farmers, their families and supporters, of Argentina are protesting because of a new tax or lack of Agriculture subsidies or something - everything is quiet. We are heading to Buenos Aires for a couple of weeks tonite, via an overnight bus that takes 14 hours. The bus would be aptly described as luxurious, that which travels through the night and saves Em and I a nights board in a hostel, which is usually about 75 Argentinian Pesos (about $30 AUD), bus ticket cost 314 Argentinian Pesos. Let´s hope we can sleep

Both of us are so excited about Buenos Aires. We have a one week spanish course planned and everything we have heard sounds like my type of city. We are hoping to rent an apartment rather than stay in hostels to truly live like a BA resident, fingers crossed. More on this destination later.

Love to you all.

Alex and Emily