Dec 14 & 15, Mendoza

Thursday 14
Right so after a laxed out day we had a late lunch and Beanie's first steak at a place where -as Riki dear so aptly put it-the normal people- eat. After visits from Riki´s various Argentinian friends we got dressed and taxied out to Palermo Soho and at at a Vietnamese restaurant called Green Bamboo for a farewell dinner for some American girls studying in Buenos Aires. Amazing food washed down by a fine vino Rosado followed by an amazing passionfruit mousse for dessert. Our waitress initially got our orders wrong and had a go at Riki, but Riki and her brilliant Argentine spanish soon set her straight. For 2 soups, rice paper rolls, and a yummy chicken main plus a dessert wine and water, we paid a grand total of $22.50NZD each. That doesn{t even get you a main in NZ! Awesome. FYI The exchange rate is basically double the NZD.
So once that was digested -finishing the meal at 12.30am we left and walked in circles looking the now nonexistant club 'mundo bizarro' and ended up at bar unico where it was creeper central. A lime capiriniha later the last 2 american girls left and Riki and I boosted to 'Lost' a hiphop club. Now the highlight personally for me was seeing gangsters blinged up in their white basketball shirts, diamante earrings and caps pulled sideways. We found the best position in the club was by the fan blowing a cooling stream of air at us and screwing our already munted hair which despite straightening and putting straightening balm in still goes into a frizzball due to heat and copious amounts of sweat. Nice one. Riki also earned her keep by getting us into Lost without paying the cover - finally she's useful!
Soon after we grabbed a cab home and had a refreshing shower and went to bed so fresh and so clean!

Friday 15
After a surprisingly early wake up Riki went for washing powder and arrived back with copious amounts of strawberries. After gorging ourselves on those we tried the Brazilian embassy yet again -to no avail. After this failed attempt we walked through Florida main tourist drag and saw lots of hearts and treemen - yelling ´cambio´(change) and leather deals. Yea.
Then we detoured to a America Latina Expo with the finest of Argentine honey, welsh fruitcake ..mm.. and wine vinegars.
We then experienced the wonders of cheap depilacion..aka waxing.. and soon after enjoyed a refreshing fruit juice from an originally named superwitty fruit juice store...'jugoso' (juicy).
We then caught a bus to Kate´s place to say a final farewell and help her pack. Enjoyed a refreshing caeser, icecream from Freddos, a columbian (!!) and a skype chat to Riki´s mom.
Went home, packed, caught the bus to the main bus station to meet Emily and Marissa. The bus description is yet to come....

So last night we boarded the ever stealth CATA International bus company to Mendoza. FOURTEEN HOURS....of course Nadine and I with combined maturity of a four year old on fizzy drink before bed time.....squealed and reclined until Marissa and Emilie our poor unsuspecting and civilized additonal partners in crime started looking a little frightened by our behaviour. Leather seats and blankets, cushions not to mention prime ubication...upstairs and front seats.Not to mention wine and dinner....of course you can imagine the novelty nevermind the reactions. But have no fear there are videos.

So after an interesting potato/pea on ham salad and four different types of carbohydrates and ´cold´re wine we opted for champagne - we are now the proud owners of those plastic glasses and got some shut eye. Breakfast was dough , dough and weak and crappy cafe con leche in Beanie´s words.

Mendoza has given us a stunning first day, our hostel is quaint beyond cupcakes and we are four in a little quarter with a deathtrap fan and mattresses that conjure sinking sand sensations. All the same the sun is shining and after working out our itinerary and driving the hostel dude to his wits end, not to mention telling him he overcharged us- the only flaw amongst me and beanie as a team is our lack of ability to do anything WHATSOEVER with numbers
A shower, sing along and bat screeches due to changes in water temperatures.... we took to the streets and found lunch, ice cream and buena onda(good vibrations jaj)

Now we are waiting for our already 25 minute late pickup to go parapenting. PARAPENTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!