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So firstly we must apologise for the massive delay since our last blog. We would like to blame Bolivian Internet and a desire to take up a true Argentinian perspective on life which involves a large amount of procrastination. In 14 days here there have been 4 days on national holiday and two weekends to prove our point. However, we shall start up where we left off in Copacabana.
We made our way down to La Paz on what could only be a typically Bolivian road, every 100 metres was punctuated with a 180 degree bend so progress was a touch slow!! Our entry into La Paz was one to remember though, dropping through the clouds into a city spread densely across the mountains. Even Rory broke off a heated debate about some aspect of Bolivian politics with his neighbour to take a quick look (although potentially he was looking for a peanut m and m seller as this have become a staple of his diet). The intention was to see the city for a few days and then head down to the Salt Flats and on to Argentina afterwards. One week later and we were still in La Paz... The miners had decided that our photos with the endless sea of salt and sun were less important than their working conditions so shut the one road that links La Paz and the Salt Flats using a few burning tyres. Alex was counting his blessings as this trip was due to take 15 hours of which only 4 were on paved roads whilst a further 3 rivers had to be driven through, yes that is through and not over or around. So with the flats no longer an option and with a looming deadline of making it to Buenos Aires in time for my birthday we decided to fly from La Paz down to Santiago in Chile.
Santiago was a completely new experience on our travels but perhaps more for its familiarities than anything else. As a city it was very much reminiscent of Barcelona or a similar European city. It was a first sign of starting to feel a lot closer to home. We only had time for one day of seeing the city so Chile will more be remembered for the stamp in the passport as opposed to any great adventure but the journey from Santiago, over the Andes and into Argentina was probably the highlight.
We still had a day or two to spare so we headed for the city of Mendoza in the heart of Argentina's wine region. It was therefore only respectful to go out for a day and taste the various local products!! The plan was to take some bikes around the 7 or 8 vineyards located just outside the city. Unfortunately a combination of visiting three or so of these vineyards and sampling a full selection of their wine followed by a rather large steak for lunch meant we never quite got as far the remaining vineyards but it was a great day. Alex and I weren't fulfilled by this ground level view of the vineyards so decided that our best way to get a different perspective was by going skydiving the following day. Rory suddenly became very fixated on the idea of a steak lunch in Mendoza that day saying he would sit this one out. I can't say I remember much of it and nor does Alex except for the photos but jumping out of a plane followed by drinking a bottle of wine looking over the exact vineyard it came from once the parachute opened was a very special day!! Quite a way to start my birthday celebrations as well as this was the day before.
Buenos Aires was all that it promised to be. We had a great apartment in the centre of a very trendy district, the steak was something out of this world, and the nightlife was weird and wonderful. Unfortunately our attempts to balance these aspects of BA with a bit of culture in the form of a museum were thwarted ironically by Alex's lack of an ability to use the internet to find out when it would be open. We did see Recoleta cemetery instead though. (the best view was from the balcony of a well known fast food restaurant in a neighbouring shopping centre so we thought it was manageable and headed for there). Each day brought a new neighbourhood to explore and a new challenge for Rory's map reading skills. I have been demoted from that role due to one too many 'gut feelings'' gone wrong!!
Anyway it really felt like no time and we were back on the road to Cordoba where we have spent our last 3 days. Yesterday was a highlight as we took to the mountains for a spot of horse riding. The idea was to go for a trot around and then come back for a BBQ and swim. Unfortunately Alex's horse was upset at working on a national holiday, slowing down to a snails pace at any sign of an incline or decline. Not ideal on a mountain route. The horses were definitely 'more lazy than crazy' as our guide put it but it was still entertaining watching Rory cling on as soon as it went above a trot. I must confess to being no better. Needless to say our true prowess came as we demolished the BBQ provided at the end!!
Anyway the next stop is Paraguay and then onto Brazil. With only 2 and a half weeks to go the flight home feels very close.
Hope you are all well. X
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