Mendoza: Under the Influence

After two weeks of farm filth coupled with iceberg- melt baths and sleeping in closet-sized accommodations with 8 fellow (smelly) volunteers, nothing says "Happy Birthday" like a hot, clean shower and a private room. Bienvenidos a Mendoza, Argentina, home to some of Argentina's most affluent citizens, blatantly apparent by Pac heights/ Bell Air-sized homes and a modern, popping downtown that leaves little to distinguish itself from the financial districts of any major US city (save the Spanish business names and cleaner, more well kept streets). But the real draw to this place for two booze-loving little gringos is the wine, which flows like Kid Dynamite or the tears of Giants fans after 2002. With enough wineries and Malbec (Argentina's most famous wine, the Malbecs quite live up to the hype. We even paid a couple of dollars to share a glass of one of the best wines either of has had tasted. Delightful.) to drown yourself in, we found ourselves a lil' diamond in the rough.

Cheers!


With the Andes' Aconcagua (the highest peak in the Americas and second-highest peak in the world, reaching 6962 meters) looming over us in the background, we spent our time strolling the cosmopolitan streets, eating in pay-by-the-kilo vegetarian restaurants (que bueno!) and relaxing in the sun in the city's many green parks. Part of the allure of the city is its fascinating insection of the hustle and bustle and vanity of Western-civilization business culture combined with a lackadaisical, not-a-worry-in-the-world, I'm-gonna-take-my-mother-fucking-nap, siesta history. The result? A combination of plush, modern homes amongst beautifully traditional Spanish architecture with absolutely no sign of life for 4 hours midday, when the business suits disappear and everyone naps snuggled up in their designer sheets inside the walls of their state-of-the-art home, complete with modern security system, white picket fence, dog and 2.5 children. The American dream lives on, my friends! The American dream lives on!!!

Some of the liquors Mendoza had to offer.

Desafortunadamente, life can't always be roses. No, some days you must wake up and, against your will, turn old. And though this human condition plagued me during my stay in Mendoza, it's symptoms (continuing painstakingly slow and painful deterioration of internal functions, such as idealism, liver, and ambition ) were effectively treated with the wave of funny, heart-warming, and thoughtful emails I received. I spent the first few hours of the day crying: from laughter, from happiness, and from feeling greatly appreciative (though far from worthy) of having such a amazing combination of people in my life.

Mr. Hugo!

Jason.... not on the farm (as you might have guessed), but all "cleaned up" for our fancy wine tasting day in one of the vineyards.

The following day we celebrated my fortune by testing out our BUI skills. (Mom, don't worry- That's totally not a crime here. Not a crime= not a problem! Woohoo!) About a 30 minute bus ride out of the city, we started the morning off right, with a plastic tumbler full of wine courtesy of Mr.Hugo, el señor de alquilar bicicletas. And although we encountered nearly 75 other winery- visitors throughout our day, we did not hear one, single word of Spanish. (Maybe not the most culturally authentic experience we've embarked on to date...)

No, this is not Napa (though you might possibly forget this after one two many glasses. This place was about as posh as they come.)


For juxtaposition, this is what another one of our stops looked like. All the flavor, with less the pretentiousness.

We did, however, exercize our livers and legs by pedalling around tree-lined, dirt streets to seven wineries, rewarding ourselves with different treats at each winery ( including Absinthe, several varieties of wine, chocolate, fruit, and Dulce de leche liquors, champagne cocktails made with some delicious rose liquor, and homemade beer). And what did Mr. Hugo have waiting for us when we showed up slightly late with his bicycles??? More wine! In the all-you-can-drink varietal (my personal favorite!)

Chao chicos! Te amo!