I
made my way to Cheryl and Rowan’s hostel to catch a bus to Luján so we could
enjoy a cycle around some wine farms. Rowan went to change money but got caught
in an hour long queue but fortunately I managed to fill the time with internet
and chats.
We
got the bus which took longer than expected so kept asking driver for where we
wanted to get off and when we got there about 5 locals were talking to us and
trying to get us off the bus (everyone was so friendly and helpful).
Cheryl
guided us to the bike rental place where we grabbed bikes and got advice in
where to go and what to eat. We rolled down the hill a little for the first
stop where we had lunch (steak done on skottle over braai) and a wine tour and
tasting. It was a very basic place and had no vineyards in sight so very
different to what I'm used to.
After
lunch we headed to the next place and after about 6km we arrived and parked
bikes before having a look around. It was much more like I'm used to with
vineyards as far as u can see and a backdrop of the Andes. We went inside to do
tasting where we had rose, Malbec, cabernet sav. and bubbles before tasting
their top of the range wines which were all amazing. When our tasting was
finished they left the last of the bottles with us so we kindly helped them
finish them.
The
Irish couple in our group had a puncture as we arrived and also as we left so
we left them to get picked up and we cycled back to the bike place to return
bikes and headed to the bus stop to et back to Mendoza.
In
Mendoza we went looking for a place for dinner and on the way booked another
wine tour for the next day. We had dinner at a parilla place where I had a
mixed grill (blood sausage, chorizo, steak, lamb, etc) which was good but just
way too much food!
After
dinner I went back to my hostel and chatted to a very nervous first time
American traveler before calling it a night.