Thanks for the messages peeps! Sounds like its all going on- I can only imagine the panic when your pride and joy and only remaining dependant went missing- I´m glad she was found safe and I have no doubt she is being spoilt rotten!Certainly sounds like your keeping busy dad! Vic, you have never seen so much crap as was on the stalls and their selling skills were nowhere near your standards! I hope I´m not missing out on a quiz on Saturday night! Smell, I would love to come to New York, but kind of busy right now! How about you stop over in Argentina? Paul, I have done one of Ernies classes before and I remember it being a killer! I must say I have totally fallen out of my exercise obsession and can feel my fitness and muscles disappearing. It is sad but I just can´t motivate myself or I´m too busy.

Monday:

I was on a mission! I was up and at the launderette over the road early! Then I was on a dollar hunt, as the unofficial exchange rate for dollars in Argentina is almost twice the normal rate becuase their economy is suffering so much they are desperate for dollars. Therefore, while Argentina is not usually a cheap place to visit, this exchange rate makes it a bargain! However, none of the cash machines were offering dollars, so I had to withdraw as many pesos as possible and exchange them to dollars. It is a bit dodgy carrying around large quantities of cash, but everyone is doing it! I walked all the way to the Argentine Consulate and realised I had forgotten my pics, so I had the long walk back and then back again (I guess this was exercise, I could of easily got the metro instead). It was a really hot, sunny day, about 30c! Again quite interesting watching the world go by- more protests on the streets! I then had to go over the road and pay for the bloody visa and I was told my visa would be ready at 4pm. I walked a different route back and went to the main market where I had cerviche from a shopping trolley off one of the street sellers! I also went to the market and bought some asparagus, brocoli and tomatoes- craving vegetables! My visa was there when I went back- I am quite proud of myself for sorting it all out, although I am not convinced I wouldn´t have got through the border without it.

Back in the hostel, I cooked up my veg! Very nice treat, although far too much for one person so guess what I had for breakfast! My laundry had been delivered- all clean and fresh! There was a couple of new people in my dorm, including a British woman who was fairly old and of Indian heritage- she was amusing to say the least! Sharing her wisdom with us and very set in her ways! There was also a Canadian girl who was really nice- we sat up on the roof terrace and watched the sunset, while she told me of her experiences at the Iayhuasca retreat taking the drugs with a shaman! We were joined by an Irish guy and a couple from Brazil, who were really funny! Didn´t sleep that well, the old British woman snored like a train!!

Tuesday:

Got all packed up, enjoyed the breakfast and made a quick last minute dollar run before getting the metro to the bus terminal for my 10am bus to Mendoza! The bus was pretty empty, but it got so hot- by the end it was literally like a sauna! It was a very nice journey over the Andes and, like you said dad, the crossing is a big hut up in the mountains! I enjoyed the dramatic, beautiful scenery of the snow capped mountains, although I couldn´t help but sleep for a small amount of the 6 hour journey. Arrived in Mendoza about 4 and as I was getting off the bus I was immediately bombarded with people saying "dollars, dollars!" and so I exchanged a little bit. I got a taxi to the hostel I had booked and checked in- a reasonable hostel with lots going on! I headed out to explore Mendoza and I must admit the city is not at all what I expected! Having heard a fair bit about Mendoza I was expecting a big, lively place with lots of character! But its a bit drab really, just lots of shops! The Argentine people havent struck me as anywhere near as friendly as the Chileans either! But it was gloriously hot and sunny! I visited the market, but it was nowhere near as big or impressive as others and so I grabbed a tuna sandwich and ended up at a proper supermarket for a few essentials. I bumped into the English couple who I´d spent time with in San Pedro and they are now in my hostel, so I´ve been chatting to them. Back at the hostel, I got chatting to a woman from NZ who lives in OZ. She´d just arrived so I walked with her and showed her the town and we sat chatting back in the hostel! Who would of thought that the girl who has never had friends and who dislikes everyone and is so lacking in social skills could find herself being so sociable and meeting so many cool people!? I have impressed myself! The air con in our room wasn´t working so it was the hottest night ever!

Wednesday: Pretty impressive breakfast :) then at 10am I was picked up for a wine and bike tour! I had lots of people asking me why I was doing it as I gingerly sipped and winced at the 100s of samples we were given, but I said that my mum would never forgive me if I come to South America and didn´t tour some of the famous vineyards! So I was doing it in your honour mother, after all you have probably funded one or two of these vineyards! We drove to the first vineyard and was given a tour around where they grow the grapes and then the giant vats that they initially ferment the wine in and then the barrels where they allow the premium wines to rest. We were given lots of samples and I sniffed them and attempted to at least sip enough for the flavour- but it was all pretty rank so I´m not converted and the others enjoyed most of mine! This region is particularly renowned for its Mulbec, I say as if I have ever heard of it or know what it means, but we also tried Merlots and various white wines! We then biked about 10km to the next vineyard- me on a bike again, this time it was a relatively easy ride although the bikes were a bit crap. At the second vineyard, a large company called Norton owned by the Swarzovsky crystal guy, we had lunch which comprised of hams, cheese, bread and olives, oh and more wine!! We were then shown around this enterprise and given more samples- the others said that you could tell that this was mass produced wine as it wasn´t as good- to me it tasted much the same- gross! I have learnt a lot about why Mendoza is such a good area to grow wine and the processes, etc. We then cycled on another 10km to the final vineyard which was much smaller and an independent company, the others really rated the wine, but I think by this point they were probably just pissed! We had a good group, including the NZ woman from the hostel, so that made it fun! We arrived back at the hostel about 6 and I showered and got some salad from the supermarket for tea! Then I sat down and started doing my research into Argentina and coming up with some idea of a route. I plan to head down first, hopefully finishing at the end of the world- Ushuaia, allowing me to see Patagonia. Then back up to Buenos Aires where I need to sort my next passport and possibly up to Igaszu Falls depending on time, etc. Before my boat to Uruguay on 18th November. So lots to look forward to!

I messaged Harriet to see where she was and she informed me that she flew home a few days ago!! I am shocked, I never thought that anyone could not enjoy travelling and would turn their back on such a once in a lifetime experience! But then I guess she never really embraced the experience when we were travelling together and I guess there is a lot of planning and organisation and uncertainty which doesn´t suit everyone! I feel a little guilty for being the reason she come on the trip, but I´m sure she will have got something from the experience.

Keep me updated on all your gossip guys! Fairly low on followers this time round, but I´m glad you are enjoying it! Oh and I am rubbish at taking pictures, so I don´t really have any to post! Some people literally take pictures of everything, but I am in the mindset that unless I am in the photos they are a bit boring and that is the one problem of travelling alone- no one to take your pictures! Haha!