*Some shorter entries as I try to complete the series before Paris. At Rio airport right now as I write this. Got to give the people what they want!!!*
Argentina was one of my most anticipated countries to visit prior to this trip. Steak, wine, football – you can’t really go wrong.
Salta was first on the Argentinian itinerary, located not far from the Chilean border. It is winter time in Argentina so it is much less crowded than in summer which provides both pros and cons. It was a fairly uneventful, chill couple of days exploring the city and indulging in some local cuisine: meat and wine.
An overnight bus from Salta brought me to the wine region of Mendoza. Both the Euro and Copa America finals were on the day I arrived, so I set out to find a pub to watch them. To my surprise, there wasn’t much interest in the Euro final, and many pubs weren’t even open. A few hours later, the scene transformed for the Copa America final. People appeared out of nowhere, packing the bars and streets to watch Argentina vs. Colombia.
The next day, I explored the city and enjoyed an asado at the hostel. Despite it being winter and relatively quiet (I had an 8-bed dorm to myself for 3 of the 5 nights), I really liked Mendoza. It had a friendly and warm vibe about it, offering the activities of a big city with the laid-back feel of a small town.
No trip to Mendoza would be complete without a tour of the surrounding wineries. I booked a tour through the hostel, visiting four wineries and spent the day pretending I could distinguish between the Malbecs. The views of the Andes were amazing.
I ended my time in Mendoza with horse riding and, more importantly, an all-you-can-eat asado with wine. A very fun afternoon!