Ritz Hotel Mendoza

... long as I can, usually including a profanity laden tirade, because in a few instances, it has gotten warmer the longer I'm in there. This problem is exacerbated because it is winter here, most places we stay at don't have heating systems (or Charge extra to turn it on) and we were up in the mountains, so this is the one way to warm up cheaply.<br><br>We went to the Mercado Central before we tried to catch the bus out to the Vineyard. We got on the first bus, but realized shortly ...

... and 2 of the best canollonis i´ve ever had. Patricia then informed us the the only bus back to Mendoza was at 6:00am. AH! Luckily, Her and her husband Alberto were headed to Lujan de Cuyo in the morning and could drop us off! We this morning we hitched a ride with Patricia and Alberto in there 1970somthing Peugaut to Lujan de Cuyo. Lujan de Cuyo is the home of old Malbec vines and is the ...

... site because of its colonial era buildings - it was the busiest port in Latin America at one point). Its buildings cover the surrounding hillside, and on its winding narrow roads retired men sit on the sharp corners directing traffic (not very well as - they tend to have one eye on the sports page of the local paper). So, I have come as far west as I can. Tonight, I start heading south and into Patagonia. before planning to catching the bus

... well &amp; neither is my grape of choice. * Numina - blends, 1 white &amp; 1 red per year, blend will differ yr to yr. They sell from the cellar door for 115 Pesos (22.50 pounds). * Primus - single variety, differs from yr to yr whether made, sells for 220 pesos (44 pounds) - didn't get to try but was tempted to buy until I remembered that i don't actually have a job. In the next door vineyard (owned by the same people) they make their young wines trading under 2 ...

... and informative. We had a wonderful C******nay aged in ss tanks that smelled like apples. And a decent Merlot. The highlight, however, was wonderful homemade empanadas. Filled with spicy beef, onion mixture. Mmm, with our merlot, it was distinctly Argentenian. With the cool bodega interior, warm wooden floors and beams. The view over the grape vines. Lastly we went to a small store in town that was owned by a German immigrant and his wife. He ...

... and like Mate seem to be the staple diet of most Argentinians, and they are really good snack food with a nice cold beer!!). We are off early in the morning to catch the bus to Cordoba, and then off to the Estancia on Sunday, we will hopefully update you all then, as we will be helping out on the estancia and doing more horse riding. Plus Lorraine wants to let you all know what music she listens to whilst we are on the coach journeys . . . you have been warned!! Adios chicos!!

... for them to get up and down after losing so much climbing time due to the weather conditions. I organised all my mountain gear this afternoon for our departure tomorrow, had to separate my kit into two bags. One bag will be taken to base camp by mules, this bag contains all my cold weather gear, crampons, down jackets, boots etc. The other bag I will carry to base camp myself and contains equipment I need for the two day hike to base camp. Wish me luck!

... attempts to try and explain that a Caesar salad has Caesar dressing on it to our waiter, we ate it with no dressing (he did however bring us hot sauce for it - what?). - After our late lunch we took the really long way back to the hostel trying to find the historic plaza/district. We didn't find it because a recent earthquake had demolished a majority of it but it was a nice walk around town anyway. On the way I was trying to take ...

... store on a Saturday afternoon or Sunday. But there is one place you have everything you need and it's open from Monday to Monday: Carrefour on Av. Las Heras and Belgrano. My third mission was to find out how to make it to Chile. That's very easy. You go to the terminal and there are buses every 15 minutes and lots of bus companies!! The crossing of the Andes is generally in the morning so you just have to go to the station ...

... head south to the Chilean Lake District, cross over into the Argentinian Lake District, see the famous Moreno Glacier around my birthday, before heading south to the magnificent mountain (trekking) area of Torres del Paine. <br><br>From TdP we'll then fly back up to Beunos Aires for a few days (hopefully catching a Boca Juniors football ...