I relocated to a new hostel and the people are nice, mostly english speaking and I decided to go on a wine tour with 5 people. It was unorganized and chaotic from the start.
We got on the #10 Bus which wasn´t the right one, my fault, apparently, there is more than one #10 bus. Then we arrive in Maipu and head to the bike and wine which has plywood leading up to the entrace. It costs 20 pesos for 4 hours and you get a free water. They hand you a map and you are off. The map is inaccurate and confusing. I was with 3 guys--one American, one drunk--I mean, Irish, a Danish guy, a girl from the UK, and an Aussie. I fixed my seat so that I could extend my legs and we were off. It was basically, the blind leading the blind. We got lost, regrouped and then went to a wine museum with wine. We were never approached and so we drank what they had out. Afterwards, I took off with the Aussie since I was tired of waiting around for the pack of them. Mostly, the 3 guys hovered over the girl from the UK and weren´t peddling fast. It was super annoying and I couldn´t believe that I had allowed myself to get stuck like that again.
Eventually, we had lunch which was nice and then we headed 5 km to the last winery. I took off with two of the guys, again, since I didn´t like peddling so slow, but the Aussie is older and not fast on the bike as well as the girl from the UK. They both struggled.
The last winery was lovely and at this point, we ran into a fellow traveler with a car. He could take 4 people with him and so me and Dane got the shaft. We rode the bus back, I practiced my spanish and now I am finally on the internet. I suppose it was a lesson in patience and human nature. I just don´t like riding that slowly. I mean, I could walk faster than they were riding. Plus, it was a safety hazard as we were clogging up the road while cars were trying to pass us. Never again!!!
Tomorrow, I am doing one more organized tour and then I will leave for Buenos Aires on Thursday night. Jaime and Dane from Denver should arrive soon and I will meet up with them in Buenos Aires for a drink or two.
Cheers...enjoy the wine and the weather. Learn spanish and feel comfortable with a map!!!
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
lame wine tour...
The cheap wine tour was just that...cheap. I was picked up with 17 other people including 3 children and a pregnant lady. I didn´t quite understand that, but it works, I suppose.
We went to the first bodega (winery) and it was a boutique winery. We went on a tour and then tried 2 wines--a malbec and cabernet--that was it. I talked them into letting me try the shiraz, but it was a tough sell. They sell their wines for 18 pesos a bottle, but export them to Kentucky and Kentucky sells them for $60 a bottle. It is the same, exact wine but completely a different price in the States. AFterwards, we went to an olive oil factory and tried some olive oil. I admit it was decent and cheap. Next, we went to a big production winery, did another tour and tried 2 wines again--a chardonnay and a malbec. Again, I felt ripped off and was disappointed. Plus there were so many people and I lost interest at the first winery. I just couldn´t focus on what they were saying in spanish or english. They had a few guides to speak english to us and they rushed through their spiel and then said, that was okay? Of course, it was fine but really, must we go through the wine tour process twice?
We ended at a chocolate factory and it was okay. I decided to either do a wine/bike tour or just drink wine in Argentina. I do not think that I can sit through another wine tour since I have been to quite a few on this trip. It was interesting to hear what they had to say in spanish, though.
Tomorrow, I change hostels and hopefully will go on a wine tour with a company through the preferred hostel. They do groups of 6 which include 3 wineries and lunch. I hope that we try more than 4 small samples of wine...it just isn´t worth it otherwise.
Jayhawks play later tonight and I am excited. I think I might be able to watch it. I would love to be able to see my boys play!
We went to the first bodega (winery) and it was a boutique winery. We went on a tour and then tried 2 wines--a malbec and cabernet--that was it. I talked them into letting me try the shiraz, but it was a tough sell. They sell their wines for 18 pesos a bottle, but export them to Kentucky and Kentucky sells them for $60 a bottle. It is the same, exact wine but completely a different price in the States. AFterwards, we went to an olive oil factory and tried some olive oil. I admit it was decent and cheap. Next, we went to a big production winery, did another tour and tried 2 wines again--a chardonnay and a malbec. Again, I felt ripped off and was disappointed. Plus there were so many people and I lost interest at the first winery. I just couldn´t focus on what they were saying in spanish or english. They had a few guides to speak english to us and they rushed through their spiel and then said, that was okay? Of course, it was fine but really, must we go through the wine tour process twice?
We ended at a chocolate factory and it was okay. I decided to either do a wine/bike tour or just drink wine in Argentina. I do not think that I can sit through another wine tour since I have been to quite a few on this trip. It was interesting to hear what they had to say in spanish, though.
Tomorrow, I change hostels and hopefully will go on a wine tour with a company through the preferred hostel. They do groups of 6 which include 3 wineries and lunch. I hope that we try more than 4 small samples of wine...it just isn´t worth it otherwise.
Jayhawks play later tonight and I am excited. I think I might be able to watch it. I would love to be able to see my boys play!
The bus and other trivialities....
I forgot that on the Tramat Bus we drove around in circles for 3 hours...not kidding. There was another bus going to Mendoza from Bariloche and they were stopping in a town for an hour and half break. We wondered where we would stop until we arrived in this town with the endless roundabout. Our bus was also a courier service and so seriously, for 3 hours, we remained in the same 5 mile radius. I kept thinking, why don´t they let us out and stretch and they can take care of their business without a busload of people. It doesn´t work that way here.
I went to bed last night and I realized that I really like this hostel. It is quiet, the people are older and they have a bath tub. Each person that came to bed after me, figured out how to get to bed without blinding me with the main light.
This morning, I was quiet as I got up to go running. It doesn´t get light here until about 8 am, though, which is bizarre. Not to mention, that at 7:30 am, about 8 people arrived from partying the night before. They are really up at all hours.
The breakfast is lacking, but the coffee is strong and really, for $10 a night, I cannot complain. I remember paying $29-30 in Australia and thinking what a waste. If you want to travel on a budget, go to Argentina or South Africa. At least you can extend your trip that way.
I went to bed last night and I realized that I really like this hostel. It is quiet, the people are older and they have a bath tub. Each person that came to bed after me, figured out how to get to bed without blinding me with the main light.
This morning, I was quiet as I got up to go running. It doesn´t get light here until about 8 am, though, which is bizarre. Not to mention, that at 7:30 am, about 8 people arrived from partying the night before. They are really up at all hours.
The breakfast is lacking, but the coffee is strong and really, for $10 a night, I cannot complain. I remember paying $29-30 in Australia and thinking what a waste. If you want to travel on a budget, go to Argentina or South Africa. At least you can extend your trip that way.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
lunch for 19 pesos...
I showered and felt like a million dollars. I decided to check out the town and stopped at an Italian joint for lunch. I ordered vermicelli with tomato sauce and a glass of wine. I swear.
After 10 minutes the waitres brought me a bottle of wine and I didn´t stop her since i didn´t know how to say it spanish. Instead, I let her open the bottle and figured that I would deal with the consequences later. She brought me bread and my spaghetti. I slowly ate it with my book from the Americans from Minnesota. When I asked for my check, I had no idea what the amount would be. It was 19 pesos or $6. Can you believe it?
I went to the Tourist office and got two tourist maps of mendoza. I figure that I might bike around the area instead of just taking tours. I watched a family eat pizza at a local restaurant and was fascinated by them since their daughter had Down´s syndrome and she was hilarious...so innocent, so happy and playful. She kept saying--esto es miyo---this is mine. I gave her my menu to add to her collection.
The couple from Minnesota were at the Tourist office and we had another great conversation about life and traveling. I hope to meet up with them before I return to Buenos Aires.
Traveling has been fantastic and I have really been fortunate to meet some interesting people. I can´t believe that my trip is almost over.
Watch out for strangers...
After 10 minutes the waitres brought me a bottle of wine and I didn´t stop her since i didn´t know how to say it spanish. Instead, I let her open the bottle and figured that I would deal with the consequences later. She brought me bread and my spaghetti. I slowly ate it with my book from the Americans from Minnesota. When I asked for my check, I had no idea what the amount would be. It was 19 pesos or $6. Can you believe it?
I went to the Tourist office and got two tourist maps of mendoza. I figure that I might bike around the area instead of just taking tours. I watched a family eat pizza at a local restaurant and was fascinated by them since their daughter had Down´s syndrome and she was hilarious...so innocent, so happy and playful. She kept saying--esto es miyo---this is mine. I gave her my menu to add to her collection.
The couple from Minnesota were at the Tourist office and we had another great conversation about life and traveling. I hope to meet up with them before I return to Buenos Aires.
Traveling has been fantastic and I have really been fortunate to meet some interesting people. I can´t believe that my trip is almost over.
Watch out for strangers...
Rated PG 13
I arrived in Mendoza and had not planned for a hostel. I figured that since it was a Sunday, I shouldn´t have much difficulty finding a bed...i was wrong. I walked to the Hosteling International place and the chick told me to come back at 1 to see if they had any beds available--translation--no help here for you.
Keep in mind, I had just gotten off a bus that I had been on since 1 pm the day before. Plus, this bus service wasn´t like the other. True, the seats reclined, but the leg issue hadn´t changed. There was no tv, no music and only a small snack when we started. I didn´t know that they did not provide full service since I assumed that all first class busses were the same. As a result, my ride was not as smooth, but i had granola bars and water. My first bus served too much food and so I didn´t eat lunch knowing that they would serve lunch on the bus early in the service.
I arrived in Mendoza, cramped and tired. My knees were cramped,not my ankles this time. It doesn´t make much difference, though, I was uncomfortable.
After I left the bad hostel in search of LAO hostel, which was highly recommended, a car stopped next to me and said something, but I didn´t hear it. I stepped closer and said--Que--and looked at him and realized that he had said--te gusta--(do you like?) and that he was naked from the waist down. I was revulted and shocked and said no! and walked away. Of course, I thought of a stream of obscenities that I could yell once I collected my senses. It was another typical, this could only happen to me moment. I mean, thank god he didn´t try to do more and I fear for the children-teenagers-adults that this man shows his pecker to. No one wants to see it. I feel so violated....
I found a hostel and arranged a wine tour for tomorrow morning. I will relocate to my hostel on choice--Lao--on Tuesday. They are booked solid until then.
Mendoza started off scary, but it is partially my fault. I figure it is natural to stop when someone talks to you unless they say te gusta, te amo or some other stupid phrase in english or spanish. I feel fortunate that I was never exposed to that sort of behavior as a child. I mean, this was a bald older man in a crappy car intent on showing me his hoo ha...YUK!!!
I am off to find food and sleep. I need it. The showers here are insane. I couldn´t get any cold water, only hot. I met some great people on the bus last night from Minnesota. They are traveling for 5 months in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Ecuador. I envy their trip.
Keep in mind, I had just gotten off a bus that I had been on since 1 pm the day before. Plus, this bus service wasn´t like the other. True, the seats reclined, but the leg issue hadn´t changed. There was no tv, no music and only a small snack when we started. I didn´t know that they did not provide full service since I assumed that all first class busses were the same. As a result, my ride was not as smooth, but i had granola bars and water. My first bus served too much food and so I didn´t eat lunch knowing that they would serve lunch on the bus early in the service.
I arrived in Mendoza, cramped and tired. My knees were cramped,not my ankles this time. It doesn´t make much difference, though, I was uncomfortable.
After I left the bad hostel in search of LAO hostel, which was highly recommended, a car stopped next to me and said something, but I didn´t hear it. I stepped closer and said--Que--and looked at him and realized that he had said--te gusta--(do you like?) and that he was naked from the waist down. I was revulted and shocked and said no! and walked away. Of course, I thought of a stream of obscenities that I could yell once I collected my senses. It was another typical, this could only happen to me moment. I mean, thank god he didn´t try to do more and I fear for the children-teenagers-adults that this man shows his pecker to. No one wants to see it. I feel so violated....
I found a hostel and arranged a wine tour for tomorrow morning. I will relocate to my hostel on choice--Lao--on Tuesday. They are booked solid until then.
Mendoza started off scary, but it is partially my fault. I figure it is natural to stop when someone talks to you unless they say te gusta, te amo or some other stupid phrase in english or spanish. I feel fortunate that I was never exposed to that sort of behavior as a child. I mean, this was a bald older man in a crappy car intent on showing me his hoo ha...YUK!!!
I am off to find food and sleep. I need it. The showers here are insane. I couldn´t get any cold water, only hot. I met some great people on the bus last night from Minnesota. They are traveling for 5 months in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Ecuador. I envy their trip.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
lagos de sur
The tour to El Tornador Mountain was fantastic. At first, I was a little put off since the tour was completely in Spanish, but then I figured this is amazing practice for me. I understand most of the words, but I cannot respond. I understood most of what Jacqueline spoke of and she was very considerate of the fact that I only spoke english. We did 3 mini hikes which I would have preferred more hiking, less photos, but in the end, the black glacier was awe-inspring. It was like nothing I had ever seen before. Plus, we drank mate´ and I had a nice time meeting people from Puerto Rico, Holland, Spain, Italy and Argentina. There was one other guy who wasn´t a native speaker and I ended up having conversations in english with all of them. The couple from Holland is traveling for 60 days on a route that I just completed and then we compared things to do. This guy love Fiji and I pointed out that parts of the Rio Mandoso looked like kava due to the color of the river. The pictures will explain everything.
Afterwards, I went to dinner with Lorenzo, the Italian, to a vegetarian restaurant. The restaurant opened at 8, we arrived at 8:30 and no one else entered until 9:30 pm. It is different to eat so late, but it is their culture.
Today, I leave for Mendoza and I am glad that I came in and decided to take the tour. I forgot to mention that I gave them my ipod for music so that we could listen to Mana´. The driver liked my selection and we ended up driving to the other hikes listening to DUran Duran and Elton John. It was odd and yet nostalgic at the same time. At the end of the tour we listened to some random 80´s CD that he actually had. Most everyone around the world knows American music, even if it is shitty music at points.
My bus ride will be long and awful, but I should wake up in Mendoza.
On a side note...Happy Birthday Jennifer Ogden. I hope you are skiing again this year and if you aren´t, I hope that you are happy. I enjoyed showing you parts of Denver last year for the big one!!! I would like it if you came back to see more of Denver....
Afterwards, I went to dinner with Lorenzo, the Italian, to a vegetarian restaurant. The restaurant opened at 8, we arrived at 8:30 and no one else entered until 9:30 pm. It is different to eat so late, but it is their culture.
Today, I leave for Mendoza and I am glad that I came in and decided to take the tour. I forgot to mention that I gave them my ipod for music so that we could listen to Mana´. The driver liked my selection and we ended up driving to the other hikes listening to DUran Duran and Elton John. It was odd and yet nostalgic at the same time. At the end of the tour we listened to some random 80´s CD that he actually had. Most everyone around the world knows American music, even if it is shitty music at points.
My bus ride will be long and awful, but I should wake up in Mendoza.
On a side note...Happy Birthday Jennifer Ogden. I hope you are skiing again this year and if you aren´t, I hope that you are happy. I enjoyed showing you parts of Denver last year for the big one!!! I would like it if you came back to see more of Denver....
Friday, February 1, 2008
the day of the trek
It never got dark here last night until about 10 and this morning, as a result of that, my sense of morning was completely off. I am not a huge fan of running in the dark either and so I slept in and enjoyed the cold. There were 3 girls in my room that didn´t have much sense of courtesy or respect when it came to other people sleeping. They showed up at 10 and it took them an hour and a half to get ready and when they left, they left the lights on. I was awoken at 3 am to them returning and I was hugely annoyed, but figured that it would only be one night and so I could survive.
Bariloche is beautiful and very similar to the vibe of Vail. There are many retired traveling along with the display of Americans, too. The prices are more expensive here, but they do have a plethora of chocolate shops. Gretchen recommended Mamushka and I found it yesterday and it was pretty great. I still have a piece of chocolate for the conclusion of my trek.
I went to the other hostel in town that is owned by the same company since they only have book exchange at that one. I went in, confident that I would be able to find something and was disappointed. Not only did they not have much of a selection, they wanted me to give them 2 books in exchange for one of theirs. I wasn´t about to depart with 2 of my bargaining chips and so I found a used book store with about 50 english language fiction books and purchased a book for 5 pesos...almost $3. I felt I could handle that exchange and might even return today for another go.
Well, enjoy the snow and I will be thinking of you when I am trekking in the sun.
Bariloche is beautiful and very similar to the vibe of Vail. There are many retired traveling along with the display of Americans, too. The prices are more expensive here, but they do have a plethora of chocolate shops. Gretchen recommended Mamushka and I found it yesterday and it was pretty great. I still have a piece of chocolate for the conclusion of my trek.
I went to the other hostel in town that is owned by the same company since they only have book exchange at that one. I went in, confident that I would be able to find something and was disappointed. Not only did they not have much of a selection, they wanted me to give them 2 books in exchange for one of theirs. I wasn´t about to depart with 2 of my bargaining chips and so I found a used book store with about 50 english language fiction books and purchased a book for 5 pesos...almost $3. I felt I could handle that exchange and might even return today for another go.
Well, enjoy the snow and I will be thinking of you when I am trekking in the sun.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)