Wine About It

Oh hey friends. Did you miss me? I did. I feel like I´ve been everywhere in the last few days, I can barely remember what happened in Mendoza. I must recap, though Elise sums it up pretty nicely. A ver:
http://elisebaros.blogspot.com/2009/05/wine-2-3-4.html

Day 3 in the hot springs was the best way to not be cold. Day 4 on the horse trip was the worst way to avoid being cold. The cold bus ride, to the coldest horse ride of all time, to the coldest waiting time in the coldest country shack of all time. Then we finally got picked up in the cold bus and met up with crazy people who went RIVER RAFTING. They were cold too. Then we all shivered our way back to Mendoza. Day 4 was intense. I also managed to get my 3rd sinus cold in 6 weeks. How is that even possible? Oh ya, cause Im always cold. The best thing though is that vino in vino country makes it all so much better. After Mendoza, me, Damien and Austin said goodbye to Primo B and E, grabbed our vino and hopped aboard our 18 hour bus ride to Salta. Need I mention... there were no blankets. Do the math.

San Antonio de Areco - Estancia El Ombú

On Friday morning, Sol, Luca & I visited an estancia in the Northern Pampas area of Argentina. The town is San Antonio de Areco, and we stayed at Estancia El Ombú. It was one of the most peaceful and relaxing 2 days. The weather was another perfect 75 degrees, sunny and breezy. The buses were full in the morning, so we took a private car out there (we met the driver at the gas station...see below, sigh). We were greated by wine and empanadas. Yes please! We went to say hi to the horses, and got to watch a really cool demonstration by the resident gauchos-- they played musical chairs on horses, they did some races, they demonstrated how the horses are trained to follow the "godmother" horse, and lots of other fun games. One of the games involved the gauchos and lady gauchas running the horse, and trying to catch a silver ring on a stick. If they drop the ring, it doesn't count. If they get the ring, they give it to someone in exchange for a beso. Well lucky me! A gaucho caught the ring and gave it to me, and i had to kiss him (on the check, please). Then later when we were horseback riding and he's all I'm really from Florida. Bust!

A giant asado lunch followed, and we had tons of good meat and even a salad... oh and a whole bottle of wine. I really liked this place a lot. Later on, we saddled up to the horsies and took a ride through the pampas. This was my favorite part. I was really soaking it all in. We got to trot and gallop, so fun! I also thought it was funny no one bothered to ask about anyone's skill level, there was no instruction, no signing your life away... just giddy up y'all. After horses, we siesta'd, then walked around some more, did some bike riding, then came back for dinner. The dining room was really beautiful, we sat next to the fireplace. And had another bottle of wine.

The next day we had some breakfast and took one more ride on the horses. This time, our fave gaucho, Oscar, took us on a private ride. This was the highlight of the whole trip. He's the real deal, definitely not from Florida. He explained how the ranch is a working ranch, they have about 300 cows and they sell them for meat. He broke his back and leg in a fall a long time ago, which is why his back is so hunched. Wow, he was really sweet... he also serenaded us during lunch. We love Oscar! We left and took a walk through the main plaza of San Antonio de Areco... everything was closed up for the holiday weekend, but it was still nice nonetheless. It was a really nice time!

Giddy Up