Crossing the Andes into Wine Country (aka Maipu)

  Mendoza, Cuyo, Argentina
Sunday, September 14, 2008

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Lovely Mendoza
Take your pick for two dollars
Malbec, Cab, Merlot

Plaza de Armas Cathedral at sunset

Had a great final two days in Santiago, where we were invited to stay at Patrick's friends' house (the frisbee players) (THANK YOU CHRIS AND TARA!) and thus got a brief respite from Hostel living (private shower!  laundry!).  Also visited the Museo de Bellas Artes and saw some amazing Spanish photography and a crazy Chilean sculptor exhibit (look up Hugo Marin if you have the time). Said our hasta luegos to the big city and set out by bus to Argentina to explore the fertile wine country of Mendoza.

Ski lift over the highway!

Crossing the Andes.  Wow.  Through a valley much like Glenwood Canyon in Colorado (but lined with huge cactus), then up into the snow covered craggly peaks.  There is this insane hairpin turn curvy road up the Chilean side of the mountains, and just when you feel like you are on the snowy highway to nowhere, there are people skiing right over the highway!  Wild.  We made it over the pass and through custom in about 6 hours, and settled into Mendoza. 

The Baudron vineyard and wine pipeline

Mendoza is a bustling little urban town, with beautiful plazas and a huge park (like Central Park!), surrounded by vineyard laden countryside.  Highlights included a vineyard/olive oil factory/liqueur and chocolate factory tour (samples at every stop, of course).  I tried Absynthe (fiery!!) and Eli had something nicknamed "Russian Death" which was a hot green pepper liqueur.  Patrick stuck with Chocolate Coconut liqueur (which Eli and I utilized as a chaser).  Great times. 

RHEA!

Another highlight was an epic walk through the Parque San Martin. We wandered past the zoo and got involved in a major photo shoot with a group of rhea (a South American bird related to the Ostrich) [NOTE: we previously indicated these were emu, our mistake!].  Walked up Cerro Gloria hill and got a great view of the mountains as well. Then went for what we came to regard as the best eating in Argentina, the Parrilla tenedor libre (all you can eat fresh grilled meats).  We're not really sure what all we were eating, but it was delicious.

At Arturito's Parilla, meat, meat, and more meat

In our short stay in Mendoza we also became groupies of the band at the bar next to our hostel.  A three member cover band called La Guapa, I imagine they were surprised to see us gringos in there multiple nights in a row singing along to their greatest hits.

Line up to cross the border

Sunday we started the bus trek back to Chile, this time on our way to a seaside port town called Valparaiso. Got stuck at the border for 3 hours while the border patrol took their lunch break (being in Sunday traffic didn't help either).  But that did give us a chance to get out and take some photos.  Until next time, take care, and if you are ever in a bus and they are showing The Punisher as the in-trip movie, you might want to take that opportunity to take a nap.

Early Spring at the Don Arturo Vineyard

Patrick with our cute olive oil tour guide Abigail

Parque San Martin

Eli and the Rhea, sizing each other up

Think I can sell this shot to Pepsi?

Eli and Bron on top of Cerro Gloria

Self portrait with Andes