South America - Argentina Mendoza, Land of Sun and good Wine

Somehow or rather, even though the lake region was highly recommended and popular among Argentinean or in South America, I was not that impressed. I guess after the wonderful times in the Penguin Land, End of the World and the Glaciers, the lake region seems a bit plain except Puerto Varas was nice and quiet.

At such, I was having high hope for Mendoza.

I took a night bus from Bariloche to Mendoza, 20 hours. Any bus rides in Argentina are around that long. At Bariloche bus terminal, a bottle of mineral water cost 5 peso for 500ml and 15 peso for 1500ml. Also, two small Cadbury cost 15 peso, the most expensive I ever seen. Sometimes, it also depends on the colour of my face, not just the farang has to pay more in the east but the chica also has to pay more in the west, same theory.
The bus was very comfortable, but I just couldn't sleep.  I no longer can sleep on night bus or train, I just need a comfy bed.

Mendoza is called the Malbec Land, not surprisingly why. It produces 80% of Argentinean grapes, thus, Argentine wines. And that 80% are consumed in Argentina alone. It shows how much Argentinean likes to drink. Most the wines here are German in heritage, strong fermentation and lot of yeast smell, not exactly my taste but that is how Argentinean like it.
With the wine, Mendoza becomes a party town at night. Visitors love it here but it is noisy to me.
However, if you take the time to walk the street in the morning, Mendoza is a beautiful 'suburb' with the grid concept. Every house is a little bungalow, with a little porch and a little garden. It is just a perfect pictureque, very livable city.

The down side for me was I had two, not one, bad hostel experience here. The Dama Juana hostel screwed up my booking and pretentious on their innocence and the Itaka hostel was filthy dirty with a smelly bathroom. The screw up in the Dama Juana hostel spoiled the day, however, I didn't really like the wine anyway. As Mendoza is turning into a party town, foreign visitors especially the young group is dominating the scene.

The next day or so I had taken a Montana Tour. I had visited the Aconcagua National Park, the little bit left over of the ancient Inka bridge and the old Pass for crossing to Chile.

Mt. Aconcagua (with a hanging Moon), Argentina - Apr 2010.

The Old Pass at 4000M

The New Border Custom

Nothing impressive, I seen higher and prettier mountain, I had later went over higher Pass at 5200M in Bolivia and trekked the 'real' Inka Trail in Peru. Save your money and drink more wine.

Beautiful Art Pieces, Argentina - Apr, 2010.

For all that I don't like about this place, I saw these beautiful art pieces in the little bazaar we passed by to see the Inka bridge.  I got myself 3 pieces to bring home.

The day after, accidentally, I went to the Cacheuta thermal bath by public bus and into the public thermal pool.  This act saved me lot of money and enjoyed the thermal bath with the regular Argentinean, which I thought was the most fantastic time I had in Mendoza.

I left Mendoza on the Labour Day, feeling the un-necessary 4 days stop over, and promised myself I shall not be back. The bus took me on the same journey as the Montana tour but this time I was crossing to Chile and heading to Santiago.