Flacso trip!

buenos dias!

This past weekend I went to the Mendoza region (again, I know) with my FLACSO program.  We had been scheduled to go to Salta y Jujuy, regions in the north west that look strikingly like Arizona, but also contain cloud rainforests and salt flats.  However, because that region is a Dengue hotspot, we had to cancel our trip!  The people at FLACSO worked hard to plan another trip for us, this time to San Rafael in the Mendoza province (4 hours away from Mendoza city, where I had gone about 6 weeks ago). 

It’s super dry here (hello chapstick every 5 minutes!).  Here we are on a hike.  The sun was really bright during the day making it hot out!  But right when the sun set, the heat went away and it because freezing out!

Jojo would love it here! 

Even though the trip was in some ways so similar to what I had already done in the region, it allowed me to do things in greater detail.  For instance, instead of just passing by bodegas (vineyards) we actually had the chance to tour them and learn how the wines were made.   These trees are always at bodegas to protect the fragile grapes from winds.  The mountains also protect the grapes from harsh weather.  That’s one of the reasons why Mendoza is the perfect spot for cultivating vineyards. 

  These are Cabernet Sauvignon  grapes- i snuck a few and they were really sweet and juicy!

It was really cold inside the wine cellars!  But they have to be meticulous about temp, humidity, and other things- the smallest difference can really spoil the wine.

The bodega featured in these pics is called “Algodon” (Dad, you would have loved it- there was a golf course next to the grapes!")  Like most bodegas here, they export a lot to the States.  If you have the chance to try their Cab Sav or Malbec do!  They were both delish. 

My trip Mendoza unfortunately ended on a sour note- upon returning home to BA, I realized that my camera had been stolen out of my backpack!  I’ve tried with no avail to track it down.  I was really bummed because I had taken so many awesome pics of both Mendoza and BA (and was ready for some killing posts for yall).  I’ve stolen these pics from my friends-facebook makes that so easy! 

Of course one can’t exactly blame herself for having a camera taken from a closed backpack, but I know that I shouldn’t have had the camera in there at all.  If being here has taught me anything it is that you always have to be on, always taking precautionary measures so that you don’t get screw, robbed, or swindled.  If you incorporate being on-point into your daily life, it becomes natural rather than burdensome.  However, I was tired and in a rush, and thus didn’t think through putting my camera in a safe place.  So I’ve paid the price! 

Next time I’m going to write about BA- It seems from my posts that I am never here, but in reality I spend nearly all my time here and I love the city! 

hasta luego, besos para todos.  Enjoy your memorial day- we have monday off here as well :-) You’ll be having cookouts and I’ll be having this…