We have arrived in Mendoza alot earlier than expected. We went onto Pucon from Bariloche in hopes of climbing the volcano (well Barney hoped too...I was pretty scared!). So back into Chile we went only to find that the place was deserted when we got there. Pucon hadn´t been affected by the earthquake but it seems as soon as it happened, all the tourists got very scared and fled the town. Apparently it was a packed, really lively town, and the next day it was dead. We checked into a really sweet hostel that was like a big converted house and we had decided to stay in a 6 bed dorm rather than book a double room. As there were only other 5 other people staying in the hostel we had the whole dorm to ourselves...and it came with a massice bathroom with a jacuzzi bath. so it was great as it was all to ourselves!

However, the volcano climbs had closed and they were doing surverys as to whether it was safe to climb. they told us it wouldnt reopen till atleast monday and we didnt really wna hang around until then. there are lots of other activites to do in Pucon but we though we would only end up doing them and spending money just to pass the time. The views of the volcano were stunning though. So after only 1 night, we left Pucon to travel to Mendoza.

Our avoidance of Santiago didn´t really work as we had to go to Santiago to get to Mendoza! We left Pucon at 10pm and got into Santiago at 9.30am. We had a few hours to explore Santiago before our bus left for Mendoza at 1.30pm. There were absolutely no signs that and earthquake had hit. We didn´t see any building work or cracks in the road etc. Life seemed to be continuing as normal. That said, I´m still not sad we decided not to stay in Santiago as there really isn´t much there. We went to the main square and saw a few sights and that was all we needed really.

We have arrived in Mendoza on the weekend of their annual wine festival. I imagined it to be alot bigger than it is. During the day, they close off a few roads for a few hours and big floats pass through with beauty queens handing out grapes and other fruits...no wine...very disappointing! other than that, life is pretty normal i think. Everything is getting cheaper though as we move further up north which is great. Just funny hearing my name everywhere we go!

THe hostel we are in at the moment is a nightmare. The staff just seem so clueless about whats going on. And they have put us in a 6 person dorm that has 7 people in it. as we´re the only couple, they have asked us to share a bed for tonight. As its the wine festival, everywhere is booked up so we don´t really have a choice. We´re only paying for 1 bed but they´re still charging us way too much to be sharing a tiny single bed in a 6 person dorm!!! just happy we´re leaving here tomrrow. Richard is coming to Mendoza on Monday and booked into the same hostel to be with us. However, it was lucky I was here as I checked their booking with the hostel and they havent receieved anything!! such a joke. So now they have to stay in a different hostel to us. O well, gna meet up on Monday which is gna be so nice. Looking forward to seeing him.

Tomorrow night we´re gna go on a horseback ride at sunset that finishes in a big traditional argentian bbq. Then we wna do a tour of the winerys and may do skydiving too (told mum me and rich we´re gna do it together but she didnt seem best pleased - 2 kids jumping out of the same plane...). Will let you know the outcome!

xxxxxxx