Mendoza, ARGENTINA

Since we didn't have class for the rest of the week, Rachael and I took a bus to Argentina on the 19th, after Chile's Independence Day was officially over (though the parties probably still continued...).  We stayed in Mendoza from Wednesday until Sunday, but we filled every day to the brim with excursions and adventures.

After the 8-hour bus ride, we finally got off the bus in Mendoza.  We were starving, because we had skipped lunch due to the bus ride.  We stopped at the first restaurant we found open, which took a while of searching.  At five-o'clock on a Wednesday, everything in Mendoza seemed to be closed.  We stopped at a place called Cleo and ate some overly-salty French fries and THE WORST pizza that has ever come in contact with my mouth.  But we left with full stomachs anyway, thanks to the fries.

Next we checked into our hostal, which was called Campo Base, and it was located right next to the biggest plaza/park in the area.  Campo Base was quite touristy - most of the advertisements, signs on the walls, paperwork, etc. were written in English - but it was awesome because they hooked us up right away with some awesome activities, and we did all of our excursions through them.

On Thursday we got to enjoy a *free* wine tour because we booked more than three nights with Campo Base.  I'll take it!!  We went to two wineries and got to sample different types of wine.  We also learned out to properly hold the glass, give oxygen to the wine, taste, smell, find color depth... In other words, I can pretend I'm a wine snob now.  We then went to an olive oil factory and got to sample different types, and we learned about the health benefits of extra virgin oils.



That night, we went to Plaza Independencia, near our hostal, and met some cool Argentine immigrants (one from Colombia, one from Brasil) who also happened to be malabaristas (street entertainers).  One of them taught Rachael how to juggle, and I taught him some phrases in English.

On Friday, we got up early to go to the cordillera (mountains) and we got to trek up a mountain - all the way to the top.  The mountain was called El Plato (or La Plata...) and it was beautiful from the top.  After we enjoyed the views from the top, we 'scrambled' down the other side a bit, until we got to a cliff-like edge.  From there, we rappelled down three different walls that used to be waterfalls before the river dried up completely.  The last rappel was about 180 feet long!

Saturday was our last excursion, and we went on a super long bus ride through the cordillera, which we had already seen on our ride in and would see again on our return ride.  The ride was three hours long one way, and we got right to the border with Chile.  From there, we got to hike around the park of the Aconcagua.  This peak is the highest summit in the Americas.  The landscapes from this area were breathtaking.  The lakes and the mountains and the absolute nature surrounding us was more than beautiful.

Puente del Inca - Bridge of the Incas.  The Incas used to bathe in these waters, which they considered sacred.

Lago Espejo - Mirror Lake.  With the peak of the Aconcagua in the back, center.  Reflection.

A naturally seafoamy green lake.  Beautiful.

Rachael and I with the Aconcagua behind us.

Barroluco... mmm

Besides all of our great excursions, it was mandatory to eat Argentine beef while we were there.  For lunch on Thursday, we shared an enormous sandwich called a 'barroluco.'  It was a large slab of beef, with tomato and lettuce, on toasted bread.  Simple enough, but it was great meat!!!  Of course we got pictures chowing down on this barroluco, and later we munched on milanesa and choripan, which are two typical Argentine cuisine.  Other than the nasty pizza from Cleo, I'd say we did pretty well with the food.



Mendoza was a nice city, but I noticed several differences from Chile.  There are fewer stray dogs, more physical diversity among people (I wasn't the only 'blonde,' as they call me), stores closed earlier, the plazas were more lively at night time, there was a LOT more marijuana (we saw it or smelled it every day.. we couldn't get away from it!), the police are less strict, their Spanish is a bit different, there's less street art.  I enjoy Valparaiso better, and I can't define why.  The vibe it gives me is more positive.  The sea is always a plus.  I like the people of Chile better, but I can't verbalize why.  I enjoyed my stay in Mendoza, but I was glad to come home to Chile.