We set off for Mendoza on the overnight bus from Buenos Aires - first class, obviously. We played bingo, watched films in English and drank champagne. We arrived early the next morning and checked out a few hostels which we all quite expensive. We are still used to Bolivian prices! We eventually found a really cheap Crispy Hands hotel but it was so awful that we decided we could only stay for one night. It was above a hideous old man?s cafe that we had to walk through to get to our room. After dumping our bags in our dubious room we set off on a walking tour of the town to find better accommodation. We walked for absolutely miles and found a range of hotels, from the ludicrously expensive to some that only rented rooms by the hour for sexing, including one called Hotel c*** he he. We eventually found a nice one that although was still quite pricey, was the cheapest one apart from our current crispy hands hotel. We returned to our slum, being careful not to touch the walls as we walked along the dank corridors in case any slime came off on our clothes. However we soon drank some wine and went to Granjad's cafe below where there were lots of arguments (not involving us) and we had a very nice time. We think it was the first time white people had ever visited this cafe judging by Granjad's shocked reaction to us. We think our presence in his cafe gave it the equivalent of a Michelin star.

 The next morning we fled the hotel and raced to our other hotel, Hotel Parque Central. When we arrived the room we wanted had a double bed in it, which we didn't mind sharing. However, the Cappuchin man running the hotel asked if we wanted two beds. We said yes, thinking we would be shown to a different room already set up. However we were told to have a seat and wait, and we witnessed the dismantling of the double bed and bunk beds being carried up the stairs and assembled at our request. Now that's customer service!

The next day we set off to do a wineries tour in a nearby village of Maipu. Most people hire bikes and cycle to all the different wineries, olive oil and delicatessen places but we decided to walk. We are not sure how many kilometres we walked that day but our feet were very sore by the end of it. We also visited a liqueur and chocolate place and had a nice tour and an even nicer tasting session.

After our long trip yesterday we decided to rent a couple of bikes from the hotel and take a relaxing jaunt around the local park. This was described in Lonely Planet as an excellent way to waste some time and relax. We had to wait for the bikes and took the opportunity to excite ourselves in Carrefour. Once Capuchin Man had sorted himself out we got two bikes and set off. The trip set off badly as Lisa had got a bike without any gears and had forgotten to bring any water. Our spirits soon picked up as we encountered a down hill and bravely decided to visit the very popular hill. We went up a main road but stopped at a map on the roadside to check we were going in the right direction. This was a fatal mistake. Two boys suddenly appeared from the neighbouring field and Lisa uttered a short "I think we should move" but it was too late. The youths were upon us. Lisa was approached by one boy who put his hand in his jacket to pretend he had something more threatening and demanded her bag. She had a handbag on crossways, which contained her new camera. So thinking of Lumix she said no so the boy tried to take the bag for himself but only succeded in pulling Lisa to the floor from her bike. It was then Lisa screamed "Help Me" in English and Spanish to attract the attention of the passing traffic. The boy started to look scared so Lisa got to her feet and waved her arms and shouted herself hoarse. It was then she turned to see how Charlie was faring. The other boy eventually showed himself to have an ugly rusting knife but Charlie bravely shouted at him and he retreated backwards. The boy that attacked Lisa then went for Charlie's clutch bag but was told "No". At this point Lisa's shouting and waving like a lunatic bore fruit and a man in a car stopped. The man did not get out but the boys got scared and started to run off but the boy with the knife managed to slip away with Charlie's bike and his mucky jumper attached to it!

The man who had stopped was worried about us and more that we would think bad things of Mendoza and Argentina in general. Even so had put the remaining bike into his large and clean car and drove us back into town. We thanked him but he would not accept any payment. The worry built up that we now had to explain to the hostel that we had only returned with one of their bikes. They were more concerned about our welfare but we still felt guilty. As we had something bad happen to us we did the only honourable thing and decided to do something nice for someone else. In Carrefour we had seen mountain bikes for sale and decided to purchase the cheapest model for the hostel. Our lack of Spanish got lots of security guards into trouble as we took the bike to the wrong counter and had actually exited the store! We then took the bike to the Hostel but capuchin man wasn't in so we gave it to the lady who looked embarrased and to avoid a scene we quickly ran upstairs. Soon there was a knock on the door and we realised we hadn't avoided a 'crushing scene'. Capuchin man had returned and was now at our door with tears threatening to burst forth.

The following day was our last in Mendoza but we had to spend it in the centre of town in the safety of the internet cafe. We played on the old playstation in the hostel that always wrecked Player Two's game as the old TV took about 10 minutes to warm up properly and until then the bottom of the screen was invisible. We now have special treatment in the hotel and have taken advantage by leaving our big backpacks at the hotel while we troll off to Chile.

Final thoughts: Dangerous with a few horrid people but compensated for by mostly nice, friendly people - mainly Capuchin man.

Mark out of 10: 3

Next Time........Santigo, Chile