Fiestas Patrias and getting to Mendoza.

The second half the Stay in Santiago was filled with celebration in moderation. Monday afternoon we took in the Fonda in our neighborhood of Providencia at Parque Inez Suarez. It was very family oriented with plenty of vendors, a petting zoo, rides and food. We grabbed empanadas for lunch and watched some of the entertainment. Being Midwestern girls, Colleen and I indulged in a local cerveza from Capital Brewers in Santiago. 

Tuesday mor ing, the holiday itself, we ate breakfast and made ourselves Pisco-Ginger Ales. After a grilled cheese, made by Laura in the hostel, we set off for Parque O'Higgins. An hour and a half of walking later, we arrived. This Fonda was larger and a little more wild. More of the same: chicha, terremotos, empanadas and skewers of meat. We left as the crowd got rowdier- indicated by intoxicated vagabonds with lack of concern for where they were choosing to vomit. 

Wednesday morning, Colleen and I had an 8am bus to Mendoza. Up and put before sunrise we made it to the station with plenty of time, waited at the terminal they told us between the 10 possible platforms but due to lack of proper reading of the bus name and it being at the wrong platform, we seemed to had missed it. I spoke with the representative at the counter who was less than empathetic. A frazzled 50-something man grabbed my tickets and offered to take us in his mini-bus. I was hesitant but a Chilean couple next to us we're in the same situation and agreed to do the same. We find out shortly after that Laura and Lindsay are already scheduled for this bus and off we go through the Andes at 9:00 am. 

The ride was filled with curves (30 sharp ones that were marked by signs stating their danger). The views were spectacular, however. Despite being very cold and windy, the ride was not terrible. Customs into Argentina was pretty painless thanks to our smaller group. A few questions about what I was doing in Chile and the duration of our trip later, we were off again.  We arrived in Mendoza at 2:30 and began the process of locating our hostel. We are located on the main street and the hostel has a bar and restaurant. Irish bars, happy hours, restaurants and boutiques litter the street and is somewhat similar to State Street in Madison with a European vibe. 

Wednesday night we got calzones/pitas for dinner and then to La Carmela for drinks. We watched approximately 20 minutes of the Argentina vs. Brasil game and called it a night. No wild partying yet but that has been a good thing due to my current health state of a possible, yet improving sinus infection. We scoped out a market Thursday morning and  made plans for a biking wine tour for Friday. We are now laying by the pool at the hostel as everything closes for a period of a few hours in the afternoons.