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The long bus journeys, often of 20 hours or so, are now a matter of course. Before you know it, you´ve watched a couple of movies, seen some scenery, talked with friends, and bedtime is upon you. Sleeping on the buses isn´t usually that much of a problem, the rattling window, baby crying or the large chap sitting in front of you snoring. The odd kick in the back of his seat usually sorts that out!
Mendoza is in a beautiful region of the country, and is famous for its wineries. So, a wine tour of the area was a must. A group of 8 of us headed out on the bus to a place where we could rent some bikes, and ride from winery to winery, sampling some of the local tipples. Of course, as they day wares on, you become increasingly drunk, which makes riding your bike through the countryside that much more fun. But you shouldn´t worry, there are ´tourist police´ who ride with you to ensure your safety. Before this was explained to us, w wondered why two guys on police bikes were following us...can you be breathalised in Argentina for being drunk on a push-bike? We were readying our bribe money but it wasn´t necessary.
Since it is winter in Argentina at the moment, it was pretty chilly riding around, but the sun made the ride that bit better. Some of the wineries we visited also made other goods such as liquors or chocolates. So, leaving with some home-made chocolates and ´dulche de leche con chocolate´, I was a happy chap.
The hostel we were staying in offered the opportunity for travellers to play the hostel staff at football. It was a footballing night as that evening, Argentina were playing in the Copa Libertadores. Our match against the staff, and also some other randoms, was played at a quick pace, at times becoming a little heated but the travellers emerging victorious.
We stayed in the hostel drinking that night, getting drunk on the wine we´d bought earlier in the day, and the beers that were readily available in the hostel. As we were drinking, a music DVD was being played, but it was music from the 80s and 90s that would show the video for perhaps 30 seconds and move onto the next. The card games we were playing soon deteriorated into a sing-along with classics such as Rick Astle and Roxette. My Belgian friend and older member of the group, Ben, now on his 23rd wine of the day, questionning loudly and jovially, how the hell we knew this music. Apparently Roxette was before our time...but not to this child of the 80s.
New additions to our group included a couple of Canadians, Adrian and Kelsey. One evening after a day out, I went to the dorm for a power nap. The dorms had bunks three high, and I was on the very top one. When Kelsey and Adrian came in to have a´heart-to-heart, I obviously could not be seen. At first, the conversation was normal but suddenly changed into emotional comments being exchanged. "Should I move? But then they know I´m there and have heard those things. No, I´ll keep still and maybe they´ll leave soon". But no, the conversation went on, with some interesting things being said about members of the group. "I can´t move now for sure! I have to lie still..." This went on for some time, until my watch beeped the hour mark, marking a silence between the two below my bunk. I couldn´t hide the smile on my face, but for all they knew I was asleep. After a little more chat, they left, for Kelsey to return, and enquire, "Pete?". "Yeah?" I replied, thus informing her I´d heard everything. I obviously wasn´t there to eavesdrop, but as a ´fly on the wall´, it was interesting to hear. I never knew people actually spoke like they were on an episode of an American soap opera, like The O.C., rather melodramatic if you ask me! They were cool people though and we had a laugh about it later.
Along with some others in the group, we decided to move onto Salta, this time facing another 20 hour or so journey.
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