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!
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