The first few days

(This post is more an update for myself and the family - so that I remember what we´ve been up to and they can keep track of it - so sorry if you get bored.  Feel free to skim :)

We have had a great time in Argentina so far.  We spent the first two nights in Buenos Aires.  Three days was a little long for us there, as neither of us are especially fond of big cities in foreign countries.  Argentina has suprised us with how westernized it is.  The city was cleaner than we expected and style is very important to the men and women here.  The shops were bountiful in leather bags, boots (all the women here wear leather boots almost go to their knees with either skinny jeans or leggings underneath), and belts.  I was a little depressed to find that although there were so many beautiful leather things, the prices were not that much better than they are in the states.  Usually when something is so plentiful in another country you can get it for cheaper, but most of the things I found were not cheap enough to be worth stuffing into my pack and hauling around for the next few days.  So, I have travelled on sans boots.

How we start our days: Medialunas, Cafe con Leche, & sometimes jugo de naranja

We did some other fun things besides shopping (fun for Scott I guess, as he was rather exausted by the shopping).  Our first night there we went and found a wonderful little restaurant and ate more than enough beef to last us for several days.  They really take their meat seriously here and we were not let down.  Our favorite is a cut of ribs special to Argentina (which I have forgotten the name of and will have to look up again).

Our second night in town we went out to another steak dinner (a more expensive restaurant that wasn´t quite as good, in our opinion) and then to a Milonga - a tango dance.  It was at an old club and we took an hour long Tango dance lesson before.  This dance is tricky!!  Our backs and shoulders were getting so sore towards the end of the lesson because of the posture you have to constantly hold.  It was quite fun though and we now know the foward and backward eight-step.  Impressive, eh?  After out little lesson a live band came in along with lots of other couples.  Most of them were in their 40´s-70´s.  And did they dance.  Scott and I just sat sipping our water at our table completely amused and impressed.  It was wonderful.

Tango Lesson

One of the couples dancing behind us

We wandered the city one last time on our third day to wear ourselves out as much as possible before getting on a 14 hour bus ride accross the country to Mendoza, where we are now.  I was really nervous due to my history with long bus rides in the past (which involve severe nausea and usually vomiting and falling in the mud, but that´s another story).  I prepared for the worste by bringing three strong plastic bags, 7up, and crackers and I ate nothing too heavy before-hand for a few hours.  I took two Dramamine and had the best bus ride I've had in my entire life! It was a double decker and rode like a train - it was the smoothest ride, even on the upper level where we were.  They gave us two meals and we slept like babies (following my half of an Ambien and Scott´s whole one). 

They even brought us Champagne to start the ride off!

Itty, bittiest sandwich ever

We arrived in Mendoza early this morning and wandered around town.  We love it here.  It is quieter, cleaner, and there are parks everywhere.  Wonderful compared to the three sprigs of grass I saw growing in Buenos Aires.

We took a nap early this afternoon and when I woke up Scott rushed me out the door and into a jeep to go PARA GLIDING.  I wanted to throw up and pee my pants I was so nervous.  The jeep ride up the mountain was horrifying.  We bounced along the edge of the cliffs twisting and turning and bouncing over rocks in 4wd and my arm is sore tonight from how hard I was gripping my seat.  By the time we got to the top I had NO interest in going back down the mountain the way we came up, and the Para Gliding was looking much more appealing.

Our jump site

Getting strapped up and ready to go

Scott and his guy had a bit of a rough start - they ran first and took off into the air about 10ft before bouncing down to the ground and then immediately catching the right wind and soaring up into the air again.  My guide acted like this was nothing, told me to run, run, run and not sit down (so much easier said than done) and off we went.  Him running awkwardly beside me (because of the big bulky parachutes strapped to us) and another man dragging me forward right for the edge of the cliff!  Ahhh!  The anticipation and preparation were the scariest, but once we were soaring up it was great!  So quiet and beautiful!  And cold!  We circled around each other in the air and just floated along like birds up above the world. 

Scott's view of us a minute to two after taking off while I was getting ready to go

The guys we flew tandem with

Para Gliding is something I´m glad to have done once, but don´t really feel the need to do again. Scott and I both agreed we're good to go in that department now.  :)

Internet time is up.  Love you all!  Tomorrow we are going wine tasting alllllllll day long as the best Argentinean wines come from here.