Posts Tagged With: Argentina

The Andes Mountains & My 1st Tears Of the Trip.

Posted on March 27, 2014 by valarieivester

As we left Mendoza we boarded a double decker bus headed to Santiago, Chile via the GORGEOUS road trip through the Andes Mountains with the best seats in the house…upper level front seats! We had read from many travelers that this bus ride was something we didn’t want to miss so we were excited to get an up close view;) With empanadas, sour worms, and other snacks packed, we were ready! The Andes Mountains are truly an amazing natural beauty being the longest continental mountain range and stretching through 7 South American countries.

Our trip will start on the Argentinian side, slowly traversing up into the Andes.

The water and sky were the most perfect color blue…. I haven’t seen a lot, but this has to be one of the most beautiful things yet.

You old smuggler you! 😉
Jorgie and I brought along a friend for the ride;) Argentinian Whiskey and we just have to sit back, kick our feet up, and enjoy?? (Both our hands raised) WE’RE IN!
(I don’t think we are considered Smugglers per saaaaay, but it’s as close to it as we are going to get) 😉

After alittle while you pull up to the Chilean border. Now I hope your ready for a wait. To get across after unloading, processing, and loading it set us back about 1- 1.5hours. We’ve heard that was considered quick.

Now we are technically in Chile and have to start our descend down this extremely windy road. By this point the sun blazing through the window, the gentle wave of being on the top tier of a bus, and this road, is testing every bit of strength I have not to succumb to my motionsickness.
Note: Dramamine ain’t no match for any of this! 😉 lol

But the road does calm down, as does my motion sickness…and really how much complaining can you do when THIS is staring back at you? 😉

NOOOOW….. I promised yall some tears…here it goes.

I truly thought twice about whether or not I even wanted to share this story, seeing as how it has to be one of the most embarrassing things I’ve ever done…..but what the hell….it happened…and it’s one of those things that Jorgie and I had a, laugh so hard you cry, moment later……LIKE WAAAAY LATER. Once we knew the tears were gone and no permanent damage was going to remain.

Sooooo, I told you about the snacks rights?!?
We bought a small bottle of cayenne pepper hotsauce because nothing is spicy in Argentina and decided to take it with us, you know, travel hotsauce. 😉 Well it puffed up with the direct sunlight and when I went to open it up to eat my empanada (all excited snd happy)…..hotsauce right in the face! BOTH EYES!!! Instant tears, blood shot eyes, my face was burning….Mascara everywhere…..Jorgie is pouring water into a napkin so I can try and get it out. Finally I remembered I had rewetting drops in my bag (thanks Mom!) and about an hour later…the burning had subdued;) Now, we made it into Chile, Jorgie alittle less bloodshot, puffy faced, motion sick than I…but we made it nevertheless. Ridiculous;)
#hotsauceproblems

THIS LITTLE GUY ALMOST KILLED ME;)

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Andes Mountains, Argentina, bus ride, Chile, hot sauce, on the road, problems | 2 Comments

Mendoza, Argentina: The Napa Valley of Sudamérica

Posted on March 23, 2014 by valarieivester

As we took our 16hr bus ride on Ruta Nacional 7 from Buenos Aires, I sat with excitement for Mendoza, Argentina. This little gem of a city is known for 2 things; Wine (Malbec to be specific) and olive oil production. Mendoza is quickly earning its title amongst The Great Capitals of Wine. Mendoza is also the largest producer of wine in Latin America and having visited Napa Valley….I was ready to give Mendoza a try;)
We planned on visiting 2 vineyards and an olive oil tree crop plantation.

Lujan de Cuyo; The Land of Malbec

We started with the smaller more traditional vineyard, Cavas de Don Arturo. At this charming vineyard they export less than 40% of their wines outside of Mendoza worldwide. That means if you want Don Arturo….you have to come to Mendoza to get it! Something we could tell…they were extremely proud of.

They walked us through the artform of wine making at Don Arturo.

BRING ON THE WINE!!! (I don’t have a problem…I swear) 😉
As I grabbed my stem ready to get me a taste, our tour guide wanted to teach us a thing or two BEFORE we drink. Val still waiting patiently….learns about how you should never drink a red if it’s orange or brown in color, that swishing the wine around not only aerates the wine and releases the aromas but also lets you see if the wine has tears. Ps…you want your wine to cry per our guide. After all if this, we were allowed to get a taste. BUT WAAAAAIT! Dont swallow, swish it around in your mouth let your tastebuds tingle a bit….NOOOOW you can swallow. All of this for one sip of wine!
Ooooh but it did not disappoint;)

Next on our list was Vistandes Vineyard.
This more modern and much larger vineyard exports over 60% of its wine. Now this doesn’t mean that this vineyard has a lower quality just much larger in size and has the capacity to export due to size.

Noooooow…I’d just be lying if I told you that we continued that whole rigamaroo (that’s a word right?) that we were just taught….we simply drank and enjoyed;)

All I can say is MENDOZA KNOWS MALBEC…Cheers!

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Argentina, cheers, Mendoza, south America, vineyard, wine | 6 Comments

The highlight of Buenos Aires

Posted on March 14, 2014 by valarieivester

This is the Church of Our Lady of Pilar attached to the La Recoleta Cemetery

The inside of the church is magnificent!

As we entered into the cemetery, with its high mausoleums and tombstones, you just couldn’t help but be at a loss for words.

This cemetery is reserved for the wealthiest, most prominent families, that held the most power, political office, and were born into old money that dates back years…………. Except for one;)

The single most moving part of my time in Buenos Aires. This is the tomb of Eva “Evita” Duarte Perron.

Evita’s voice for the people and her life given to the support of social justice was infectious. Her passion not only to live for her husband but also for the people of Buenos Aires continues to resonate in the hearts of many still today. She was born to an “illegitimate” second family of a wealthy man that left them nothing more than his name, and shoned most of her life for the illegitimacy. She worked tirelessly to give support and aid to the working class and needy all the while being frowned upon by the wealthy that reserved all the rights and money. It is comical that she gained such notoriety with the country that she is laid to rest amongst the wealthiest families that worked so hard to separate themselves from her.
***I’m sure I will think about this long after I leave this place but it truly reminds me of what I wanted my own Conscience Journey to be.
Gracias Evita

“When the rich think about the poor, they have poor ideas.”
-Eva Perron

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: a conscience journey, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Eva Perron, Evita, purpose, Recoleta, the people, travel | 5 Comments

The neighborhood of La Boca….The home of Tango & the natives

Posted on March 14, 2014 by valarieivester

Our hostel provided us with a free tour of La Boca and it all starts at La Caminito. The buildings are painted as vibrant as the natives to this region are. Foreigners fill the streets to get a taste of what is original and all started here.

I was completely seduced by the origins of Tango in these streets. Learning that this was a dance of the poor before it became widely accepted by the French only made me more intrigued. PLUS… can you get any hotter than this?!? Her dress and his openly bare chest…. wuuuuuuu (as I fan myself)
****I just got this memory of Antonio Banderes via the movie Desperado……I know I know… that was a Spaniard playing a Mexican and dressed as a mariachi but this is my blog and it still applies;) Moving on;)

This neighborhood still holds their history very close to them.

To any fútbol fan in this area….this stadium has to be their crown jewel;) Home of BOCAS JUNIORS right here in La Boca. I just wanted to scream GOOOOOOOOOAL really loud but didnt;) Jorgie was with me and I didn’t want him to leave me;)