Salta to Patagonia

When I got into Argentina my first stop was Salta, and for the first time in a month I was out of the altitude and cold. It was a great change of pace for me and I spent much of my time there relaxing, eating BBQ and drinking wine.

My next stop was the second biggest city in Argentina, Cordoba. The city has 7 Universities in it, including the oldest in South America, and it was great to get a feel of college life in another country.

I contunued on to Mendoza, the wine capital of Argentina. Being a UCSB Gaucho, I of course had to spend my first day getting intouch with my roots and going on a horse-back ride with an offical Gaucho. We were given free reign over our houses as we ran them through the moutian brush trying to keep up with the Gaucho. After 3 hours we got back to the ranch for a tradional Argentinean BBQ.

The next day I rented a bike and visited 4 different wineries in the region and got to sample all the Malbec I could handle. And as if I hadnt had enough already, on my third day I took another 1/2 day wine and olive oil tour in a van followed by a Maté class and then another all you can eat BBQ.

I then headed out of wine country and down into Patagonia and the lake side town of Bariloche. I hiked and skiied with amazing views and oldly enough had some of the best beer in South America. My hostel was located in an old penthouse overlooking the lake and mountians.

My next and final stop of South America will be Buenos Aires before I head off to Asia!