Mendoza

Mendoza is famous worldwide as the centre for Argentinian wine. I later learnt that other regions make this claim! The journey to the wine country was something else. The coach ticket worth the equivalent of £25 got me a reclining seat, blanket, A/V entertainment and food provided by a hostess. This is for a 1100km journey for 16 hours. Beat that Iberia! The roads here are impressive, in fact I felt like I was airborne.

The road to Chile, with the Andes in the background. No idea what this guy is carrying.

The approach in the last 300 km was endless flat bushland and almost as soon as the orchards and vineyards started appearing, the Andes, the longest mountain range in the world (from the Caribbean to the Straits of Magellan!), appeared before me including Aconcagua, the continent's highest mountain.

Mount Aconcagua is in the middle

I had to switch hostels as the room I was staying in for 1 night had 2 people suffering from some food related virus; also I was chasing up a recommendation for a better place and the epidemic was the catalyst to my speedy departure. Eve nthough I took up a solitary double room, the family owned Ebenezer (not the evil Mr Scrooge...I laughed when I heard the name!) Hostel had the family in full rotation on reception duty (except the wife I noted). A friendly bunch. I even exchanged music with the daughter, who is keen on Rhythm & Blues and Reggae. Her ringtone was One Love by Bob Marley.

These girls were asking me all sorts of questions. Are Argentinian girls the prettiest? Which one of us is the prettiest? I told them they are all equally beautiful but secretly I think the one on the far left in the prettiest!

The city has some cool plazas though what goes on in them makes it more interesting. I managed to catch a Brazilian Batteria (Samba Band) droppin' some samba and capoeira fusions. The age range was mind boggling, from primary school kids to grannies. In terms of nightspots, the places that will stick to my mind have got European themes! The Irish pub (in fact not Irish at all: expensive Guiness and many TVs showing sports.....a Plastic Paddies basically) and the 5th Beatle bar (a Beatles mad looney runs this place and they got the fab 4's tunes playin all nite till u feel like stomping on a beatle).

Brazilian music in Argentina!

Porterillos, an area east of Mendoza, overlooked by some low mountains (which are in turn overlooked by the Andes!) was the centre point for my outdoor activities here: horseriding (yeah, blazin saddles n all!) and trekking.

Me and Limbo, my trusty horse (actually to my annoyance he kept on stopping to chew on twigs)

Learn from the guru...

I also joined a group on a wine tasting tour of Maipu, a wine growing area just south of the city. This includied 2 bodegas, an olive oil factory and an artesan liqiour blenders. The people I was with were a good bunch ( also wasting time travelling like me) and we joined up later in the evening to an all-u-can-eat "Parilla". I have never been so full for just 22 pesos (just under £4)! A full spread of meat (all animals, all parts, all joints), salads, platters, deserts....like those well illustrated food orgies in Asterix comics!

How about a glass of wine? Maybe a vat?

How about a trolley full?.....hmmm?

K.