Friday, January 16, 2009

Don´t Cry For Me, Argentina!

Sorry for not getting these pictures up earlier, but Pablo and I went to Mendoza, Argentina last weekend! We ended up having to go to, um...well, let´s just say "renew my tourist visa" since it is only good for 90 days. That ended up to be a bit more complicated then I wanted and we ended up (thanks to a stupid bus driver giving us false information) changing our bus tickets and leaving at 10:30 Friday night. Driving time to Mendoza is about 6 hours, but it took a little bit more time because we had to pass through customs at the border (at 2 am). We got into Mendoza about 5:30 and illegally exchanged some money into Argentine pesos and hopped into a taxi to take us to our hotel. It was soooo nice! It was as American as I could have hoped for!
The next day we went for a nice little stroll through downtown Mendoza. Here´s a picture of us at lunch.
Mendoza is a really calm, town and it was so clean! I think that I am just used to dirty Santiago, but it was really a calm little city. (Did I mention they have a Wal-Mart?!) The food was amazing too! Everyone who says that the meat is better in Argentina was RIGHT. It was so yummy! My favorite Argetine food was the Dulce de Leche. I have never eaten anything so creamy! Here´s a nice little picture of Pablo in the old school phone booth in downtown Mendoza.
On Sunday afternoon we ate at this fancy yet delicious restaurant, Don Mario. We have heard so many good things about the barbeque in Argentina, and the rumors are true. We ate the best slice of meat I have ever had. The restaurant was really fancy so we didn´t take a picture inside, but waited to leave. If my belly looks huge, it´s because I had just finished eating!

For those of you who have seen my attempts at Photography, you know that I have a thing for doors. I don´t know where it comes from. But as we passed this door, I had to take a picture. All the different houses in Mendoza were small but so clean and well kept, fresh painted, etc. It was so cool to see them so clean! (The opposite of Santiago)
This picture above I like to call, The Long Journey Home. Wow, the drive was worse during the day on Monday. We had to cross The Andes, and that was an aventure! We started off the drive home with a nice little protest on the freeway. Don´t worry, they were just burning garbage across the freeway. But we took a little detour and then were on our way home. Going up and then back down those huge mountains...don´t think I will do that again for a long time! We did have to wait for about 2 hours in the border again, so here is a picture of Pablo at the top!
All in all, we had a nice relaxing time. We got to swim at the hotel, take naps, eat yummy food and just chill!

11 comments:

Katy said...

Hey there world travelers!! Argentina looks nice! I LOVE doors too-- in France I was a NUT about em, but I'm happy to know that I'm not the only Door Freak out there! Keep up the great photos-- and be safe (crazy adventures hopping borders, etc, etc!! winkwink!)

Kayla said...

Looks like so much fun. I bet you were tired though. The colors in that first picture look so pretty all together.

Kurt and Kristy said...

How fun!! It's nice that you guys are getting some traveling done! Im jealous!! You guys are so cute together!!

Diane said...

Your so lucky!! I wish I can go!! I've heard the same thing about Argentina and the delicious food.
So right now I'm typing and one of your cumbia songs came up!! It reminded me of when I was in Colombia, because thats what sounds on the radio all the time. Anyways...I'm glad your doing good!!

Anonymous said...

Fancy, schmancy! I love how you can just go to a different country if you want to. I can't imagine having that kind of freedom! Looks like you're doing great. You're SO my favorite!

Andersen Family said...

Hey beautiful. I was just browsing through facebook and saw your were engaged. Congratulations! Your adventures sound wonderful!! You look so happy!!

Brian and Carly said...

Clean and a walmart? Geez where are you!? Looks like fun. I want so bad to jump through and hang out there with you and some other cool Chilenas for a few days.

Carlos said...

That sounds like fun! You're brave going over the Andes like that but I bet it was fun. Fun pictures!!!!

Lindsey said...

This looks like so much fun - I am jealous of you, but in a noncovetous way!!

Michelle said...

Beckita -

Can you bring Chorizo back to visit us sometime? Also - Felicidades! Te veo muy feliz - me alegro muchisimo por ti. Debemos hacer un chat un dia - tenemos un webcam asi que ya puedes ver las dos ninas mas bonitas en todo el mundo! Cuidate - mejor amigas en la escuela secondaria.

Unknown said...

tienes razon-la carne argentina es la mejor del todo mundo...
por fin compartes tu amor por argentina..