So begins our Argentinean adventure, chapter 5 of "ROADTRIPPIN THE SPHERE". The drive from Santiago to Mendoza was simply spectacular. You slowly wide your way through the rugged snow capped Andies. A quick 8 hour bus ride and we arrived in Mendoza.
The Mendoza region produces 70% of all wine made in Argentina! (And we made a concerted effort to try and make a considerable dent on that 70%)
We entered Mendoza expecting a sort of Stellenbosch feel, this is certainly not the case. It is atually the 3rd biggest city in Argentina, but even with its size, came a wonderful beauty. The streets are very wide and sided by shady trees!. The lovely clean paved walk ways made home to many a little coffe shop, corner cafe or restaurant where people would sit and slowly drink a coke, chit chat an generally unwind!
It didn't take us long at all to notice not only how beautiful the city was, but also how beautiful the Argentinean race is. We have never seen so many 10's in one place! So if you are a boy and like pretty gals, I would say Mensoza is the place for you.
Our hostel, Damajuana, was more like a hotel then hostel. It had a beautiful pool with loungers and a great grassy area. Our first night wasted no time in heading straight out for steak and of cos a bottle or two of Malbec wine. Every night thereafter we would head to the local butcher and grab steaks and a good bottle of cheap local vino and have a braai (or an Asado as the Argies call it) at our hostel!
Our first little excursion was horse back riding in the mountains around Mendoza. We had our own personal guide, Enrique, who spoke perfect Ingles. Really nice guy! Headed up into the mountains with great views of the city and a beer at sunset on his ranch. We also got the all important low down on the party scene of Mendoza. Where the locals like his younger sister liked to party! hehehe
Next adventure was bikes and wine tour! This was pretty over rated, and in the end we just bought a bottle of wine and sat and drank it in the beautiful vine yard! These wine farms are extremely beautiful and just like those of the Western Cape.
Mendoza also bought us together with our Chicago girls.....oh what fun! Katie and Michelle (who were "studying" in BA) joined us at some locals house party that Guy and I had been invited to (our last night in Mendoza).
We got the party started in style and as expected we quickly became their new Super heroes.....(they just won't admit it) But perhaps the highlight of the night was getting them home to catch their bus at 8am....Oh what a nite! We headed back to the party and watched the sun come up! Needless to say Sunday was one of the longest days of world tour. Multiplied by the fact that we had to climb onto a 15 hour bus to BA. It is very necessary to give you a quick idea of Argentinean buses. You get pillows, blankets, a seat that goes completely flat, hot meals and champagne.....yes very romantic we know (finer details are censored for reader comfort). Well, all of this comfort is at least what you get when you are the worlds worst backpackers(ie. Sphere and Roadtrip)....we only travelled on 1st class buses!
Mendoza in a nutshell involved: fun activities, lots of wine tasting (and drinking aggressively), LOTS of red meat, a few great nights out, loads of ping pong and pool and some serious R and R.....
The show must go on and so it did......to BA! but before we continue, lets give you a few facts of our trip. The date is now the 29/11/08. We have been living the dream for 64 days. We have visited 5 countries, we have slept in 21 different beds each, we have caught 7 long distance buses and drunk.......an undisclosed number of beers!
So we arrive in Buenos Aires, most certainly 1 of the party capitals of the world (soon to be explained). We checked into Milhouse hostel, the possibly the most well known and talked about hostel in South America. The hostel organises parties/nights out every night and basically spoon feeds you your plans for the days as well. You simply dont have to think when staying at Milhouse, simple have your wallet ready and they do the rest! We arrived on Monday, feeling a little tender after a our last night in Mendoza and a long overnight bus trip! We look at the board ans see the weeks activities: Monday Evening Milhouse Party! We couldn't be party poopers so it was kind of like we had to go!
To sum up BA, we were there for 7 nights and we went out 7 nights. Just to explain to you how things work in this city. You eat dinner around 10pm and then start thinking about going out at 12.30pm.....so you generally arrive home around 6.30 pm. Yes the days are long!
BA is an amazing city, with delicious food, great bars/clubs, beautiful people and a lot of history. Its only possible negative point is that temperatures reach 40 degrees with no way real to cool yourself down.
We explored the city, visiting the colourful Boca district with Tango dancing in the streets, bustling cafes and restaurants all with colourful vibrant colours. Of cos a visit to BA is not complete with out a tour of the Boca stadium. On this tour we found out the real reason why Boca Juniors never lose a game....1st they only sell 3000 tickets to the opposition, their seating looks directly into the sun for the entire game, they have 1 toilet for all of them and the they sell them no refreshments. 2nd they moved the opposition change rooms directly under where the hooligans stand, making any kind of team talk impossible. Now wonder they are the best team in Argentina!
In BA you will find most spectacular (if you can use this word) cemetery right in the centre of one of the most exclusive areas in BA, Recoleta. In this cemetery we found the grave of Evita Peron, a major figure in Argentinian history!
Now for the girls, lady boys, Metro boys and Gay boys (Tommy & Matt) there is Palermo. On the weekends all the bars, cafes and streets are turned into a showroom for all the young designers. Really some amazing things to buy(if only we weren't on a backpackers budget). Now something for the real boys. In Palermo you find the biggest and most amazing steaks....look at our facebook pictures for yourself....enough said.
BA was really where we kicked off the partying of RTS. Not sure we could live in BA. But visit again?.......in a heartbeat.
Next it was time to move onto Iguazu falls. This is the border of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Its a wonder how this is not a wonder of the world!
The Falls were spectacular in every way. We stayed in the most amazing hostel called Hostel Inn on the Argentine side! Everyday we had in Iguazu was perfect weather wise.....sunny, hot, not a cloud in the sky. It made walkig around the falls a real treat. In addition to walking around the falls we toook the Grande Tour which involved hopping on a large power boat with around 30 other tourists and driving to virtually under the Falls. It was great fun getting up close and personal with one of natures most powerful entities.
That was Argentina..............everything we had hoped for and a little more! Great weather, beautiful and more importantly quite friendly people, culture and not to forget...... lots of the acclaimed wine and red meat.....BRILLIANT! Team RTS arent easily impressed but Argentina did a great job in doing so!
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