Mendoza

Had a very pleasant 3 days in Mendoza; drinking lots of wine and eating lots of meat!

It's a nice city. Not many tourist attractions but very livable with lots of plazas and a southern European feel to the place. Was a nice change from Patagonia; walking into the city from the bus station, getting a coffee and sitting outside in the warm morning sunshine next to a leafy plaza.

The real draw however is what surrounds the city: great vineyards!

Did a bike and wine tour in Maipú on the Sunday. Most vineyards are closed on Sunday but there were still two open at opposite ends of the route. The first, Trapiche, was a big, commercial affair with a fancy building and a large estate. The wine sampling before lunch went down very nicely.

sophisticated business

Trying to find some food in Maipú on a Sunday proved to be a bit of a challenge. Eventually found the only open takeaway in town however and enjoyed a pretty good steak sandwich sat on the street, before getting back on our bikes.

On leaving Trapiche, we also found ourselves being tailed by a police car. Was it because the area was dangerous?  That tourists touring vineyards on bikes were dangerous? It remained a puzzling (and slightly concerning) mystery until on our way back Pina got a puncture and we found out the less sinister and tourist friendly purpose of the escort: they were just there to help! A nice offering, but they could work on its promotion.




Our second vineyard was much smaller and run by a French couple and it was interesting to see the contrast after Trapiche. 

Maipú itself isn't a particularly attractive place and the cycle route between the vineyards is mostly down the main road.

Was going to try and fly on Monday but it clouded over so had to resort to more wine tasting with Pina and Sylvia, this time in the nicer town of Luyan. After a steak lunch at the first vineyard we only had time for one other but it was another  lovely day sitting around sampling wine, with a little cycling to keep the blood flowing.

The wines were mainly malbecs obviously, but quite a few blends and a couple of whites too. Wasn't blown away by any but they were all pretty good.

Chris had gone on to seek a viewing with Aconcagua and I again tagged along with Pina and Sylvi on a night bus to Cordoba. Splashed out on the ultimate in bus luxury with a fully reclining seat... but still didn't get much sleep.