Blog three

BLOG NUMBER THREE

 

… continuation of planes, trains, automobiles, buses, taxis, collectivos, tuktuk/samlors, horses, and ubers and now… bikes.

Three relaxing days in Mendoza. The first day, we walked to tour the Trapiche bodega which is only 200m down the road; met Dale Koch from Portland Oregon; his dad founded Koch Motors in Edmonton, which is now owned by his uncle and brothers…  only  half a degree of separation in this small world.

Yesterday, Ken and Colleen did a wine tour of 6 bodegas plus dinner and met a mountain climber who climbed Aconcagua (23,000 feet) by himself; Ken remarked he was quite a remarkable fellow to visit with. Aconcagua (a con cow ah) looms over Mendoza and is the highest mountain outside Asia… very beautiful.

Our last day in Mendoza as we fly to Buenos Aires tonite so Ken and Colleen are doing another trail ride today. The rest of us are relaxing around the pool, finishing off the last of our beer and wine and swimming in the pool.

Yesterday, Jim, Vicki, Heather and Lynn rented a bike from Mr. Hugo and biked from bodega to bodega to bodega.

 

Rode  about 8 km to Tempus Alba, wine tasted, rode to Vina El Cerno (organic wines), more wine tasting, rode to Mevi, more wine tasting plus empanadas – got a $10 AGP discount for riding a bike to the bodega.  Bike trails are very narrow with high curbs, Vicki’s pedal hit the curb and she did a header into the deep ditch and got a bad scrape on her leg. Police showed up and convinced her to come with him back to Mr. Hugo for treatment which was good advice. Vicki is a real trouper!

 Jim and Vicki walked back to our digs. Lynn and Heather soldiered on and visited Vinoteca La Botella; 5 tastings plus a free bottle of homemade wine for $5CAD. Followed that up with a bike ride to an olive oil tasting, olives, garlic, homemade jams, chocolate, and liqueurs. Our livers and digestive systems are getting a real workout!

K&C got back from a trail ride with a real gaucho; he owns land 8 miles x 8 miles and has approx 200 head of cattle. He and his son have to watch for rustlers who would steal his cattle. He explained to Ken that there are certain “no go” areas at night; graffiti on walls (as a warning) indicated locals had shot 4 cops. Silvia’s advice NOT to rent a van (because the 6 gringos would stand out like a sore thumb) was probably the best advice.
On to Buenos Aires!