Hi everyone,

So we made it safely to Córdoba for our very brief visit! After adding a day in Mendoza it meant that we were only to stay in Córdoba for 2 nights.

We arrived early in the morning after another comfortable Andesmar night bus. Our hostel, Córdoba Backpackers Internacional, wouldn´t let us check in until 12.30pm which was fine but normally they let you change your clothes and brush your teeth in their bathrooms. This guy was being tight and restricted access to all areas so we grumpily headed out into town in search of breakfast. Thankfully, we found a lovely cafe that looked after us as well as tourist information.

We organised to go on a city open air bus tour that afternoon as we figured that was a quick and good way to see most sights with little time. When we checked in to the hostel later we found only one other person in our 4 bed room and were quite pleased. I crashed out for a nap in the afternoon before the bus ride.

We ran into a couple we met in Mendoza on the bus tour (random) and enjoyed the ride in the sunshine. Córdoba is Argentina´s second largest city and has 7 universities. We managed to see areas that we probably wouldn´t have ventured to on foot, like Parque Sarmiento and Parroquia Sagrado Corazón de Jesús los Capuchinos, a church. Overall, the city is quite pretty.

That night we made the mistake of going to a buffet restaurant on recommendation from the couple we met in Mendoza. Las Tinajas was HUGE and had a very tacky indoor waterfall and river. For those in Melbourne just think back to the Island Trader in Burwood...yikes!

Our Peruvian roomate came back to the room at 7am the next morning which was fine until he passed out and left his mobile phone on! He had set an alarm he had no intention of waking up to and that we struggled to turn off. Even with Mark yelling in his ear he failed to wake up so we did our best to bury it under him! I think i need to put the Sheraton reservation hotline on speed dial!

The next day we decided to wander about some more and I even got to do some shopping!! In preparation for upcoming higher altitudes, meaning colder weather, and horse riding I decided it was time for some more appropriate attire. I managed to get some bargains, not exactly what you would call couture, but happy with my purchases went back to find Mark. He got retail envy and so we then ventured out to get him some stuff too. I never thought I would get excited about practical purchases!

Mark must have been overtired, delirious or already asleep when he agreed to escort me to the movies for a film of my choice. Let me clarify that this never happens. I had managed to find a Hoyts cinema in my new favourite shopping centre and was keen to see something. In order to protect his male ego and reputation I will only tell you the film name in spanish; Guerra de novias. Those that want to can translate! Either way I enjoyed it...Mark predictably shook his head and groaned!

We didn´t achieve much else unfortunately but were happy with our brief time here. I don´t think it helped that we were excited to travel north to the estancia near Deán Funes the next day! We arranged to catch us mini-bus there which would have us there by lunch time....it was time to go and meet the horses!

Sending lots of love and thanks to everyone for your messages as always

Marco and Jacquelina xoxox