menDozing and Drinking

Arriving in Mendoza we were just blasted by the heat. After beautiful chilly weather for soooooo long, being back to the hot just drains all will to live. But, we pushed on. A day of wandering was followed by a day of excitement. I went off with a redheaded Argentinean named Kevin, a guy named apu from huuraz peru, and Helena who is belgish, into the desert valleys west of the city. After a 45min hike up the ridge, we ducked into a dry riverbed and began repelling down it. 4 in all. 3 relatively small (10 meters) and one 50 meter wall on which I managed to get some wicked blisters. Once down, we decided, what the hell, lets climb back up, so for the next 3 hours we took turns climbing the big wall. Wicked fun. Hard work and a bit scary to look down from 45m.
Amy, on the other hand, spent the day with her folks who are circulating in Argentina for a couple of weeks. I understand they had a nice day checking out the finer points of Mendoza and were kind enough to invite me to dinner. It would have been rude not to accept. No? (thanks again!) delicious.
Day 3. wine tours! Did you think we could come to the wine capital of Argentina and miss it? Instead of taking the package tour, oh no, went on an adventure. Bus to the valley, rented bikes, and then pedal power between vineyards. The run down:
-wine museum with old cooper tools and a really good info filled tour. Best fact. the juice from red and white grapes is the same color. The difference is the reds are fermented with their skins. So, hypothetically, there could be a merlot that looks like a white wine.
-lunch at a gourmet deli which sold baby eggplant in oil and minced squash in lite hickory vinegar sprinkled with oregano and other stuff. Vegetables. Not my style, but the lunch was great. Big sandwich. Sweet potato chips. And free samples.
-small vineyard. 8 hectares started by a French guy 3 years ago. Decided he had enough of normal business and bought the farm. Literally. Crap wine. But good on him for having a go.
-the chocolate factory. The chocolates were good. The liquers were better. They distill their own alcohol and make their own chocolate and grow most of their own fruits. We tried mint chocolate. Grapefruit, dulce de leche with chocolate and banana, and a wicked tabaco flaor. We then bought a mandarin liquer. They have about 30 types.
Then back to Mendoza and on a bus to Cordoba. Upon discovering there is nothing to do in Cordoba except drink champagne on the roof, we are on a night bus for igazu falls.
Slowly marching onward.