Back in Santiago and on to Mendoza

On December 21st, we drove back to Santiago, after a relaxing week in the Colchagua Wine Valley. Thank goodness for the GPS to find our hotel and car rental company.  Had to hunt down a cambio (money exchanger) to get some Argentinian Dollars. During our last 2 days in Santiago, we took the metro downtown to visit some sights we had missed on our previous time here. We saw the Presidential Palace with its' stately guards outside, keeping watch over Michele Bachelet...not for much longer. Then visited the Cultural Museum. We thought it was rather timely that their exhibit was on ancient China, considering our niece Meghan and her partner Mike, are presently in Hong Kong and China over the Christmas period visiting Mike's family. So we stood along the fake Wall of China!! The main part of the exhibition features some of the Terra Cotta warriors....very impressive. We also visited the National Art Gallery with an impressive display of religious, historic and modern art.

On December 23rd, we headed to the bus station in Santiago, to catch the bus to Mendoza, Argentina. What chaos!!! Everyone is headed back home or wherever for Christmas; buses coming and going to all points in Chile and Argentina. Mostly locals who have numerous suitcases, pullies, bags, shopping bags, toys, bikes, etc. ; and all the while Celine Dion belting out Christmas carols!! Some fellow travelers visible by their backpacks.  We finally boarded our bus about 1/2 hour late, and headed out. The road out of Santiago into the suburbs....well really the shanty towns; started heading into the Andes. Got some great pictures of the "wild" rivers and spectacular mountains.  Quite dry country, with scrub brush and many cacti, which were blooming. The road is quite narrow and the traffic was mainly transport trucks and buses. We started going uphill and must have gone up some 30 switchbacks....looking down was pretty scary (Denis...you would not have done well here!!). At one point we came across a transport truck that had jacknifed and was in pretty bad shape..not sure if he lost control or not, but quite sobering. Then arrived at the peak, only about 10.000 feet  at Portillo, a ski area in Chile. A few kilometers further, we crossed over into Argentina. Several very long tunnels going right through the mountains.  Spent about 1 hour at the border. All the passengers had to disembark and had to line up at immigration. One border guard to stamp your passport as you are leaving Chile right next to  another booth/guard to stamp your passport as you are entering Argentina. They x-rayed some of the luggage, did a quick cursory review of our backpacks, checked one passengers luggage and we were finally on our way....think this was more show than anything else.

Robin and I always get a kick of the way things are done in 2nd and 3rd world countries. We noticed throughout Central America and our previous visit to South America, that nothing is automated. Everytime you check out of a hotel, or buy something in a store, they give you a written receipt. You never want to refuse the receipt, would simply be an insult.

When we finally arrived in Mendoza, chaos reigned once again at the bus station. Signs pointed to where the taxis should be, but they have since changed where they line up and we had a lovely tour of the bus depot, before we found the taxis!!  We should mention, that when your luggage is loaded on and off the bus, you are expected to tip the men that handle this task. We were berated in Santiago for not giving enough!! Same sort of thing happened when lining up for taxi; didn't have any small change to give to the young guy helping us put our bags in the taxi, and he expressed some "unkind" words...we think.

We have splurged a bit for Christmas and are staying at a nice hotel in the centre of Mendoza. Would not normally be our first choice, but a lot of the B & B's and guest houses that we investigated before we left are closed/full over the Christmas period. This hotel has a fitness centre, so needless to say, we have taken advantage of that....great to get some cardio in.

First thoughts of Mendoza, is that this is quite a lovely City (population100,000+). Wonderful tree lined streets, and many pedestrian streets. Lots of outdoor cafes, most having numerous large umbrellas' so you can find some shade.  No shortage of restaurants, mainly featuring meat. Wonderful specialty wine shops which also carry goods (jams, mustards, crackers, etc.) made locally, in addition to the fine wines of this region for which Argentina is note.  So civilized. Wine tastings (degastutiones) available at these wine stores, but only on certain days.  This area is known for its Malbec, a hearty red which we enjoy.

When sitting in the outdoor cafes, street vendors and little urchins  (kind of sad to see the poor; but this is part of life), will leave things on your table such as socks, cards, pens, etc.; so that you can look at them, then they come back in a few minutes and try to get you to buy them. They haven't had much success with us....didn't need new socks for Christmas!!! The cafes here serve little cups of peanuts and other salted snacks with coffee or drinks....I'm already missing the prebre of Chile!! There is lots of hugging and kissing going on, seems that everyone is meeting friends/family in the cafes before Christmas..not unlike home.

It is now Christmas Eve, Robin and I walked around this morning, arranged for a City tour for tomorrow (we know....weird for Christmas Day!!),  then have planned a visit to a couple of vineyards for some tasting and  an olive oil farm for the 26th. Stopped by the Mercado Central and saw the locals buying their fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and other food items. We will post some pictures, very interesting. Found a restaurant that was open tonight; fortunate as most places closed. The restaurant was busy setting up extra tables and chairs for all the gringos. Will certainly miss my sisters ( Paulette) tourtiere. A maid just delivered a cake to our room....I guess the hotel's present to us for Christmas.

Will try to post more pictures in the next couple of days.

To all our family and friends, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas....will be thinking of all of you. While it's nice to be traveling to exotic places; there is still nothing that beats Christmas at home.