Cordoba and Mendoza

Cordoba

The bus journeys are getting even longer: from Puerto Iguazu to Cordoba was 24 hrs. It would have been 22 hrs but there were road blocks.. fortunately I slept well and we stopped to eat at a service station restaurant. In Cordoba I checked into Cordoba Backpackers which I had booked through the hostel in Iguazu. It was conveniently situated downtown. I enjoyed spending a few days in Cordoba just chilling out. I walked around admiring the buildings - the old University, the Cabildo (city hall), Cathedral and some of the Jesuit churches. I also visited a little museum not far from the Cathedral which is a memorial to the Disappeared and those detained in the late 70's. In this little place had been a secret detention centre. Outside were black and white photos of the youngsters who had disappeared.

Cordoba is a lively, friendly city. It was sunny during the day and not too cold but definitely chilly at night. I took the opportunity to buy some winter clothes. I also had time to go the movies - quite fun to be watching Robin Hood from over here.

I moved on by bus to Mendoza - ten hours this time on a very comfortable bus. I have been staying at a friendly comfortable hostel, Mendoza international. It is in a quiet area and just a few blocks from the centre. best of all, they have a fire going in the lounge/dining room.
I went on an amazing trip to visit the Andes. We drove towards the mountains. We stopped to view the volcano that is on the border between Chile and Argentina. We had a look at a picturesque stone bridge (reconstructed) that the liberator San Martin had used to take his troops over the river. We passed through the pretty resort of Uspallata where they filmed some of the scenes for "Seven years in Tibet". A lovely site was "Puente del Inca" or "Bridge of the Incas". This is a natural formation with yellow/sulphorous colouring: a bridge had been created by a glacier and an avalanche and used by the Inca in their trail south.
The best came last: we walked in the Aconcagua National Park.
It was a  sunny day with clear views on Mount Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Americas (6962m).
One of my trip was a bike tour to the wineries. It was great fun being in a group and cycling even though it was a cold, cloudy day.
It was a pity not to be able to see the mountain views but the vineyards are a russet colour. We did some tasting at 3 vineyards/bodegas - mmm, you can't go wrong with a Malbec. To finish off we visited a little family run business that makes chocolate and liquers, mmm, liked the chocolate mint liqueur.
I have had a relaxing few days in Mendoza and it's hard to leave but I am off to Bariloche tonight. A 22 hr journey south.... Will be a lot colder and probably snowing...