Mountain Mania 2 - the mountain bear returns...

Well since the last post I sent from Cordoba the scenery has got steadily more spectacular. Before I left Cordoba I did a trip to the surrounding area around Cordoba which was nice. The area was mainly mountain valleys and lakes. The main highlight was taking a chair lift to the top of a mountain for good views of the valleys. The chair lift I took was like what you get at the ski resorts. I laughed thinking how Baggaley would have reacted as he is scared of heights, the big girl!
After Cordoba I went to Mendoza which as all you quaffers know is wine country. I did a tour of a couple of wineries, it would be rude not to. Great to get to the tasting part - managing to get a taste of quite a few wines. Even bought a bottle as it was so cheap for the quality of wine. Took a couple of bottles back to the hostel and did some serious quaffing only stopping to go eat a massive thick steak. Hey you gotta do it to soak up the wine. It's unbelievable how many different wines there are in the restaurants, Christ the wine list is like reading the bible there are so many.
Took a day trip to the surrounding mountains, where the mountain scenery was outstanding. If you like mountains like me, I have to say it was up there as one of the most scenic roads I have been on. As good as the scenery was, the actual tour and the guide were rubbish. His first photo stop may as well have been in a powerstation there were so may pylons and wires. Uninterrupted views of panoramic snow peaked mountains and he stops there. He also very rarely stopped so as you can imagine was like a caged tiger wanting to get out of the vehicle take some shots. I had to bite my tongue stop myself telling the tour guide he was a clown. We did manage to stop in a couple of good spots right up in the mountains to get some good photos. So yes Janet - me camera finger was going ballistic. Coop - you can expect the photos to be coming thick and fast. (not as good as the photo of Lord Vader George) Even went on another trip to a massive canyon south of Mendoza which again was well worth a look. I enjoyed my stop in Mendoza, a good spot with great wine and again great steak plus good things to see nearby.
After Mendoza I headed to Chile and Santiago up the same mountain route I took earlier. When I got over the border the mountain scenery on the Chilean side was even better as you are right up at the top of the mountains surrounded by snow peaked mountains over 6,000 metres. You even have the chair lifts coming over the bus taking the skiers to the ski slopes. Santiago is a nice city, again its a big un with everything you need here, even if it is more expensive than all the other countries I have been to in the Americas. Today, here, I have seen something different - coffee shops like hooters - yes believe me. The waitresses who are absolutely lush all wearing tight, short, low cut dresses. Some of the best views I have seen while drinking coffee. Looks like my coffee habit is about to get alot worse!!!
On that note I will say
laters my friends....the bear

Argentina!... the streets are paved with steak and wine.

Greetings to everyone...
Well I had heard the rumours about Argentina - the lush steak and red wine - let me tell you, the rumours are true. I have been in Argentina for 10 days now and I have to admit I have eaten steak on nine occasions, yes its that good. I swear it's a good 2 inches thick and it melts in the mouth. The wine is also amazing and so cheap, put the two together and let the good times roll. I really should have a night off the steak, especially as I am getting heartburn, but as they say no pain no gain. By the time I get back I will have a big belly and a nose like Alex Ferguson!
My first stop in Argentina was Salta which was a really nice city with good colonial buildings. The weather was lush, great walking around in shorts and t-shirt in the day and even comfortable in a t-shirt at night. What's great about Argentina is European standards and cheap prices. There are outside cafes and bars where you can chill and watch the world (well, beautiful women) go by. This is probably why I stayed in Salta for 8 days plus the hostel I stayed at there were people to party with. I did manage to do a couple of excursions though to the surrounding area. The scenery was again very good with a lot of different coloured mountains and gorges plus some more salt flats. So as you can imagine the camera finger was clicking. It killed me getting up at 6 in the morning after a belly full of steak, wine, beer and a late night. Christ I must be getting too old for it! I was getting a rollicking off the tour guide as I was falling asleep during the tour, mind you she was boring me to death bless her. I nearly told her leave me alone I am only here for the scenery and the photos, I ain't bothered what the are plants called.
At the moment I am in Cordoba, a city south east of Salta and let me tell you it's a big 'un. I have spent the day mainly getting lost its that big. Plenty of steak houses though. There is supposed to be some nice scenery again in the surrounding area so I shall check that out in the next couple of days. Next stop - I will head west to Mendoza which is said to be big mountain country and I do like me mountains!
So long for now.....the bear