Mendoza is a relaxed sort of city, just across the Andes from Santiago. We arrived the day after the huge earthquake in Chile, and to the news of a complete break down of law and order as well as widespread looting in Conception and the surrounding areas. The thin veneer of civilisation, watching people on the news escaping with Plasma screen TVs, and the plethora of consumer products that people evidently cannot do without these days. Slightly surreal to watch all this unfold via the news, and the ensuing transport chaos in Santiago, while we're just across he border in a town that is happily preparing for it's annual wine festival, for the region is Argentina's largest wine producing areas. 
The week is spent enjoying much of this wine, and watching the build-up for the parades on the Saturday, where floats fill the streets from the districts surrounding the city.
After much deliberation
we decided that as this is our designated year travelling, and who knows when we'd be able to travel like this again, to extend our visit to South America... only where else could we visit? So many places... off the beaten track? Established places? Somewhere we knew about? We could pick two countries... Cuba and Peru. Why? Why not! Cuba is the probably the last bastion of any vague links to socialism left on the planet (and will undoubtedly change in the future) and Peru, well, Peru is amazing after all!
More pics here!
No comments:
Post a Comment