Mendoza, Argentina...A Very Livable, Lovable City

Mendoza was rebuilt in the late 19th century after an earthquake practically destroyed the city. The people who designed this modern city back in those days should be national heroes! The trees that line each street in the center are now taller than the buildings they front providing shade everywhere one walks in this hot, arid city. We haven't been uncomfortably warm, yet, because of the shade and a refreshing breeze. It does help stifle complaints when we read the temperatures back home and hear about the snow accumulation!



Today we rented 'bikes from hell' and went back to the giant park that we toured in the open-air bus on Saturday. The road to the huge park has some of the most valuable real estate in the city. We walked it on Sunday, stopping along the way to admire the homes and marvel at the creativity, style and elaboration.


We learned a lesson about bike riding today...we are spoiled! If it isn't a Cruiser, it isn't for us! Both were mountain bikes which is so hard on your back, especially for Broken Back Browning. Who invented those hard, pointy seats, for whom were they designed?! And my bike had no gear, a wobbly back tire and you had to peddle hard downhill! We will be more picky in the future with bike rentals, we've never been so happy to ditch the bikes as we were today.



We have played at the casino for two days on A$10. ($2.50) Yesterday we gambled for over an hour and came out 1/4 US penny ahead! But, as Lady Luck would have it, today our big winnings and our investment went quickly! We play the only poker machine until we start losing and then switch and bet higher stakes on the spinning game that nobody understands. Yes, we play one machine. Keith pushes the button that makes the game progress and I choose the cards to hold, following the training he has provided. It's fun for a smokey hour or so, if we can make our money last that long. Certainly nothing we will ever do to really lose anything of value, we're too cheap!

Today I took a powerwalk while Mr. K. rested. The city is built on a grid system around a central square with four other plazas spaced around four blocks away from the four corners of the central plaza. It was a great long walk during the city siesta, which closes down every shop but eating establishments.



Plaza Espana



Plaza Chile


Plaza San Miquel

Much to my amazement I found a Mexican restaurant not three blocks from our hotel. Unfortunately, by the time I picked Keith up and we walked over it was closed until after 9 pm, when the dinner shift begins. Our eating schedule is not in synch with Argentines, who follow an Italian schedule. Needless to say we stayed in for supper eating soup prepared down in the breakfast room, maybe tomorrow at lunch we'll have burritos!



We did enjoy our first meal out in a month yesterday sitting outside at a cafe, a menu of the day that included wine and dessert. We made the most of it!

We've Arrived In Mendoza, Argentina

Our last days in Bariloche passed quickly with much time relaxing and reading. We enjoyed a chicken dinner because turkey was not available and really missed having a piece of pumpkin pie with the families! Emily’s children were kind enough to feed us virtual bites through Skype but somehow it wasn’t the same.

Two funny interactions took place during our final day in the beautiful town of Bariloche. While we sat briefly in the main square soaking up the sun taking in an ultimate view of the lake, we were approached by two women from Chile also vacationing in the tourist town. They were hoping that we had ‘fuego’, fire, to light their cigarettes. We didn’t have a match or lighter of course, being non-smokers, but one of them quickly picked up on our accents that we were not from around here. When she discovered we were from the states she was very excited and quickly became friendly with us! The hour we spent chatting was delightful and ended in besos for everyone!



Our new friends were in Bariloche with their 16 year old daughters with a school year-end trip with their class. We have encountered many such groups of students in Bariloche, this is a right-of-passage as students complete their school year successfully. Lucky kids!

After explaining to Keith sister Teresa via Skype on Thanksgiving how difficult finding our Thanksgiving meal stuff were I decided to take pictures of the supermarket we had been using in Bariloche. Keith decided to wait outside during the photo shoot, he was afraid I would be approached by management as I snapped images and I was. The manager quickly softened as I tried to explain how interesting it is for travelers to explore markets in different countries. He was convinced that I was amazed at their selection, quite to the contrary. Politely and being extremely culturally sensitive, I pointed out some of the differences. He listened attentively and questioned me about items that we couldn’t find here that are available elsewhere. My camera wasn’t confiscated luckily and I parted without police involvement. ☺



While the wine selection is amazing, there are no salad dressings, peanut butter, cheese variety, or any products such as Mexican, Chinese, and Thai… You can find pasta, oil, and a multitude of yogurts though and bread is cheap and tasty.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyBWvi4oA-E3QoM2TAv9VoZ3UKhyI9CaW9ZJ5vndNMkMfQlDtKyVvJXWHvmg8CTBuv_GNSNy7385eHuP775Y6GillfsWcmNSZSWZyxwyNe3OMuU61V2qBpP1UHOdst-BJsweA3uOKZuXU/s1600/pasta.JPG">


Traveling by plane is the only way to see much of Argentina without suffering for days in the bus because of the routes through and around the Andes mountain range. We flew directly from Bariloche to Mendoza where we will spend a week.



Our hostel choice, reserved through the internet, proved to be several blocks away from the beautiful, green city center so we changed locations this morning after spending just one night at the Hostel Savigliano. The new place is directly across from the Plaza Chile, one many plazas here in Mendoza. Each bench in the block-square plaza is tiled differently with the name of a city in Chile, we had fun seeing the cities’ names we visited last month.



No this isn't where we are staying, isn't it beautiful! We did visit the casino inside yesterday where we enjoyed playing for an hour with 5 pesos, $1.25. It was worth the free sodas, we were up 50 cents at one point...guess we should has cashed in!



This city is a wonderful surprise. It was practically destroyed in the mid 1800’s and rebuilt with wide boulevards planted on either side with trees that are now huge and provide great shade and beauty.



We took an open-air bus tour yesterday afternoon through a huge park and to the top of Cerro Gloria to see a view of the city and a monument celebrating the independence of both Chile & Argentina.



Siesta time shuts down Argentine business from 1:30-4:00 pm each day, very European. Since it’s Sunday nearly everything is closed today. Life seems slower here than at home which Keith loves~ he knows how to nap! Luckily I have many plans to make for our upcoming months of travel to keep me occupied. Ciao for now!

Time Passes Easily Here in Patagonia!

Clear blue skies, sunny days with a cool breeze, bright crystal clear water surround by snow-capped rocky peaks, and a comfortable place to cook & sleep...does it get much better?! May I add, we are still loving each other's company!



For the past five days we have slept in, had a nice egg sandwich and strong coffee for breakfast and then hit the trail to visit beautiful spots around Bariloche. The public transit system is perfect for touring around a fifteen mile radius from town in various directions. Each road takes you along the lakeside with most incredible 360 degree views.

One delight here in Bariloche that contrasts to our visit to Chile is the creativity in architecture! The buildings are not colonial or even old, but they are unique. Mostly constructed from rough timbers the structures do not follow the same set of plans. We have oohed & awed our way through our daily bus rides. This area is full of inns for tourists, tea houses and undoubtedly, many rich people's second homes on the lakeshore. Beautiful structures surround by manicured and wooded lots, lovely to look at!



Yesterday we visited Colonial Suiza, a small village on a dusty dirt road where the first modern inhabitants in the area set up camp. A group of 10 year old students loaded on the bus, they were noisy and excited about going to an overnight camp with their class. Every bus fills up past capacity, in our opinion, with many people standing in the aisles on the winding paths. We have been lucky to have a seat on nearly every trip.



After walking around the town Keith enjoyed an ice cream cone and we headed to the waterfront where I found a family of birds. I tried not to interrupt their routine on land but when I got too close they jumped in the water, little one and all.





Who can identify this beautiful bird?

This morning we boarded a bus for Cerro Catedral. Keith's first response was 'not another church!' but that's the name of the very important ski resort here in South America. It's huge with MANY groomed trails, eating establishments and lodges for winter visitors.





It was a very scenic setting.




Today there was a little red MG event and we thought of brother Dan!





Our bus dropped us off at the Chocolate Museum, ohhh, it smelled so good in there! After tasting some yummy bon-bons and downing a couple small hot chocolates we were treated to a private tour of the factory by a very knowledgeable bilingual guide. The history of chocolate is interesting and very delicious!



Here's the only snow we encountered up close today!

Some Great Reasons To Visit Bariloche...

What more can we say?!

The Sun Is Out!!

Sundays are slow days in each South American town we've visited thus far on this adventure. Everything is closed for a day of rest. Luckily I found a wonderful small shop with fresh fruits and veggies yesterday when I ventured out in the late afternoon drizzle, so we were well supplied today! We also stopped by the bakery across the street for a couple of yummy cookies full of Dulce de Leche, sweet milk. It's like caramel, but not exactly. You find it everywhere, at breakfast tables & in the markets where the peanut butter would be, if there was any to be found.

As the sun appeared this afternoon the lake turned bright blue. The wind has now died down, it's almost 8:30 pm, so tomorrow should be a glorious day to sightsee outside the city limits or even ride bikes.

There were windsurfers out riding the huge waves on the lake, they were very skilled and flew across the water. In the distance we saw large wings near the shore and then as we looked more closely coming from the middle of the lake. We walked over to the spot where the action seemed to be happening, but by the time we arrived there was not a kite in the sky. We are hoping to figure out what sport it is, kite surfing possibly! Very cool, to watch, not actually participate!





This is a picture of Keith on the street above the hotel where we are staying.


This was the view from our window as we enjoyed a chicken dinner with a nice salad & baked potato.