Loving Mendoza

Buenos Dias!

Well I finally have some good stories to tell.....

First off, in Cordoba we went to the market and I got these amazing painted faces made of leather. They are so beautiful, I love them. And for so cheap. We made dinner that night at the hostel, and it was just like home cooking. Very good. Got the bus at 10pm, and were at first very happy. We were sitting right up front and they even served us champagne. But it was so uncomfortable, I didn´t sleep at all. We got to Mendoza around 7:30am and went straight to our hostel. It is by far the nicest hostel we have been to. More like a mini resort. And the people that run it are so nice. It has a gorgeous back yard with a pool, a ping pong table, a wicked common area with comfy couches and a fire place, and a very nice resturant/bar attactched. Loving it. It was straight to bed for us.

After about 20 minutes of sleep, Clay comes in and askes us if we want to go paragliding! "Sure Clay, just let us sleep" So we get up around 1pm and wonder...are we really going paragliding?? Way to catch us when we are half asleep Clay!! So around 2pm they pick us up(Me, Mikki, Clay and Ryan...for some reason Aggie didn´t want to run off a mountain! weird).

We drove out to the mountains, up a very windy and narrow road in a rickity old truck, and to the top, where the paragliding site was. Mikki was the first to be suited up and strapped to her guy. It happened so fast. They didn´t make their first attempt, so the Dutch guy that came too went first. Mikki askes me "Aren´t you going to say goodbye?" So I give her a hug and before we know it her guy is saying "Run, run, run!!!" and she is flying through the air!

I am next to go. Our first attempt was horrible. The wind pulls us and I´m trying to run, and get pulled to the side and crash down onto the ground. My arms are black and blue from the straps and my knees are too. It hurt so much, I wasn´t expecting it. They didn´t really explain what was going to happen that well. All they said was "Run and don´t sit down until I tell you to" I was a little upset(ok, crying) and had to sit down for awhile. My body hurt! The wind wasn´t very good, and we made three more attempts before we finally made it. After the first, it wasn´t so bad. I got used to falling on my ass! When we finally made it into the air it was amazing. It kind of felt like a dream. Flying through the air, with the birds below us! We were 1000 meters high. Unbelievable! It was so cool. We stayed up there for about 30 minutes, then came down for the landing, which was much easier than taking off! What a great experience! Me and Mik were in a seperate car on the way home and our guide stops to see hes friends. We end up having a little birthday party for one of the girls that flew that day, with birthday cake, beer and all. We didn´t really know what was going on but enjoyed it! Good times. Back at the hostel we slept for a bit and then got up for a BBQ dinner. And then early to bed.

On Monday Ryan, Clay and Aggie went rock climbing for the day. Me and Mik got up and wandered the city, had lunch and did email(the day I posted the pics). Got some groceries and came back to lay by the pool for a while. When they got back we all hung out, and made dinner. BBQ chicken, salad, corn and asparagus. So good! Ended up having some drinks and going out to an Irish pub. Not the best idea, since we decided we would go repelling in old mining caves the next day!!!

In the morning we had to be up and out the door at 8am. Soooo early! Mikki was dying and I was close behind. Our guide, who was so awesome!, stopped and got us water and some hangover pills! We drove out to the mountains, up this super windy road(the road of the year because it has 365 curves!) and through the mountains until we were 3000 meters above sealevel! It was soooo beautiful(you will see the pics soon). You could see snowcapped mountains in the distance. The ones we were on were in a desert. So very dry. After a very long drive, we finally got to their base camp. It wasn´t long before we were suited up. I didn´t think Mikki would make it but she was a tropper and came. We drove out to the mine, which is over 300 years old. We walked through the caves, and did a repel 20 meters down a very dark hole in the ground. But it was soo cool. I think I held my breath the entire way. Got some good pics! Its all about the pics! Ha ha. They took us through the second level, and then to this huge spiral staircase that lead to the third level down. Tour around, and then back up and out. We walked over the mountain, back to the truck, and then drove back to the camp. The mountains are so amazing there, I´m sure the pics won´t do it justice.

Back at the camp they had a beautiful BBQ lunch set up, with a white table cloth, wine, and servers in white linen jackets. I felt like royalty. It was so good. After lunch we had a couple hours to hang out. We layed in the sun for a bit and then one of the guides took us for walk around the area to some old ruins. Then it was time to go. We were sad. It was such a great day. On the way home our guide took a different road, and it was such a great view the whole way. We had the best day!!! I loved it. Back at home we went to sleep for a bit, then got up at 10pm for dinner, then back to bed. I was so exhausted.

Today were are not doing anything. Hangin by the pool, going to watch Clay play ultimate frisbee. Tomorrow we are going white water rafting!! It has been quite an adventure since Clay and Ryan are here. We are loving it. Will need some rest once they leave!

Ok, love to you all. Going to try and get the rest of the pics up today, or sometime this week. Take care.

Cheers