Welcome Back
When I start these emails, I don't expect them to get as long as they are. I choose the best incidents and undertakings- believe me, many other things happen as well that aren't mentioned. As grown-ass adults with free thought, you can either unsubscribe, delete, or read them.
As you've been sitting on your seat's edge, anxiously caught in suspended animation, here's what's been happening since that infamous Saturday:
- We landed a cool place for 2 nights in BA.
- We lost the tix to Rio, Rio to Sao Paolo, Sao Paolo to Bolivia (me), Sao Paolo to Indy (Heather), Embassies were closed for direction (Brazilian/US), no Visas (10 to 2-week timeframe).
- We missed out on our Rio stay.
Heather is in communication with her US airline, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the insurance I purchased kicks in for reimbursing all of this. I also hope that I win the lottery I never play.
Big Girl Panties: The Mendoza Pivot
So, we licked our collective wounds, put on our big girl panties, sporadically decided/purchased flights to Mendoza at 11:45 am, at aeropuerto by 12:45, flight at 2:15, so time to spare (even though I thought our flight was 1:15, freakin out the whole Uber ride there)- no hotel yet at this point.
I love a day like this when you start in one place in the morning, and by end of day you're in a place you'd never imagined.
The Mythical Credit Card Machine
Got to Mendoza aeropuerto, found a stay via Booking, Ubered there, and, even though they advertise credit cards, their machine was down, and we didn't have cash for the stay.
Half an hour, much arguing later, and a puss-faced manager intervening at some point, somehow, magically, through the mysteries of a world where there are such mythical anomalies as the Loch Ness monster, Chupacabra, Yeti, Aliens, and how our national debt will ever get paid for... the credit card machine worked.
Monday Night, 11:30 PM
Interesting: Here, and in Uruguay, we've noticed many restaurants don't open till 7-8ish (at night, in the PM). We found a cool area, lots of great happy-hour drink pricing, we ate, and were finally walking home around 11:30. The area was fully rockin' still then!!!
Outdoor seating, eating, drinking, chatting, and nearly full on a Monday night. It was a really cool vibe and special to see such energy that late. I can only compare it to arriving in Bangkok around 1 am to find it in full gear, as well as late at night in Ho Chi Minh City. Electric!!! But, somehow, this was different and more European in character.
The Coolest Stay: Modular Magic
The next morning, like a dog scratching its fleas, we hurried to leave our stay. We found a 3-unit mini modular space with a pool. See pix! Soooo cool. I've been researching these for quite some time and find the concept fascinating- now I know. This has business potential if planned correctly- anyone interested, I've already thought it through!
Mendoza Wine Country
So, Mendoza is a famous wine region in Argentina. Yesterday, we eventually found our way out to a beautiful winery where they not only made many styles of wines, but also olive oil (from their grounds), and Grappa. Today, we'll head to another one, spending more time there, since yesterday was limited.
As an aside, we had a great, simple meal yesterday. A 'normal' one not laden with MEAT: Pollo, salad, veggies. We'll probably start our day there before landing at a winery.
The Andes Crossing
Tomorrow morning is already planned with a day-long (8-hour) bus trip through the Andes mountains to Santiago, Chile. The buses here can be really tricked out with semi-sleepers (nearly bed-like) seating (called 'living room bed', in translation), wifi, coffee/sometimes nibbles, bathroom, basements with a Jazz bar, pool tables, dartboards, and 'happy ending' massages.
Well, maybe not the dartboards- that'd be silly and dangerous on the winding roads...
We decided to do this since the day trip is supposed to be visually stunning, and we can get work done at the same time. Years ago, Cynthia and I did this trip, yet it was at night.
Quick Notes:
- Got screwed yesterday at the ATM. I only use this when on trips. It cost me dearly for the transaction fee!
- People smoke in these parts like it's their jobs.
- I've never seen so many tatoos as I have on this trip. Like they were getting paid to have them.
Thursday 01/08 11:15 am - The Yo-Yo Day
Just returned from the bus station. Got up early, raining, got ready, Ubered to the bus terminal, running late, anxious about running late, finally found the ticket window, only to find out the trip was canceled since the overland road was closed due to the rain.
Not much more info forthcame (new word), ordered an Uber, waited in the rain like wet dogs, Ubered back to stay, which was still ours since we were leaving a day early. We really like this place.
Trying to determine next steps. Unsure when the road will reopen, we may have to take a flight tonight (only 1 hour), but obviously much more expensive! Crossing fingers insurance may pony up for this since Heather has an impending flight back... sitting here in bed covered with heat on trying to warm back up (ironic as we're in hot Argentina), sun is peaking back out. Good god, another yo-yo day of travel, lost time, and what's next? Stay tuned.
Finally: Through the Andes
That afternoon, we ended up buying bus tickets for early the next morning. It cost us double, and we received half of the service. The next morning, we were running late, unsure even if the roads would be open or not. Can't get a hold of anyone and no news that I could find about it- only whispers on the net that it was.
Got there as they were boarding, and the day began. I attached pix of the incredible back side of the mountain pass, past the Chilean border. No Wifi on the bus, and I was expecting to get work done.
One project was finding a place to stay before we hit the border. It is always a requirement by customs to know where you're staying. Since we were in a bus, we bypassed at least a mile of cars that were dead stopped as they awaited customs. I imagine the prior day really screwed up the crossing. As we waited in line (+/-1.5 hours), I scored Wifi and found a place to stay in Santiago within minutes before we hit customs control.
Stay Tuned For...
- What do you mean by "...if you threw a baseball from here, you could hit the President's house"? With my luck, that'd not work out well for me, nor something I should try!
- So, we're staying with the Mayor of Yungay?!
- Verifying the internet tour guide assertions: Santiago, Chile => "Great food scene."
- Wait, whut!? That apartment number isn't available in this building, and we don't have a reservation here?!
~e
FYI, the passing of my Oma (grandma) happened on this day on 01/11/1992. A truly sweet woman, having lived a big life, the saddest of which was the concentration camps and the atrocities she endured. She's in my thoughts!
