In addition to growing some of the world’s best Malbec grapes, Mendoza is also a thermal area. Today we took advantage and spent our morning at the spa. After a few hours of water therapy, we headed off to Bodega Fogón for another winery lunch. Fogón is one of the oldest vineyards in Mendoza, established…

The idea for this trip was born out of a random statement Kris made to Dave a few years ago while buying his favourite wine in the liquor store. She said ‘I want to take you to Argentina to drink Malbec in Mendoza’ and thus, the vacation planning was started. Obviously many more things have…

This morning we flew from Salta to Mendoza – another quick but bumpy flight. Wine marketing starts right at the airport with a sign that reads ‘welcome wine lovers’. We picked up our nice new rental car (Fernanda the Fiat) and headed to our hotel. Casa de Glebinias is a small property with a few…

Salta is a nice, well preserved Colonial city. Salta comes from the Aymara word for ‘beautiful’. It is often called Salta Linda (Salta the beautiful). Salta claims to be the birthplace of empanadas in Argentina, or at least is rumoured to have the best tasting ones! The region certainly has very tasty ones. We’ve sampled…

We had an early start today which means the light is good for photos and heat hasn’t built up yet. The morning started off a bit chilly but we were sweltering by the time we got back. Our tour guide today is Jose, a new employee and not one of Fido’s sons as expected. Jose…

Today we drove from Cafayate to Seclantas via the Quebrada de las Flechas (Valley of Arrows). The eroded sandstone rocks are gray and spiky like arrowheads. We stopped at the Bodega el Cese in Angastaco. We shared the wine tasting (degustación) with three Argentinians on their motorcycles. All rapid-fire Spanish but they offered us English…

Today we drove through the Quebrada de los Conchas (Gorge of Shells or Shell Ravine). Geologists have found sea shells and other fossils in the rock, proving that the area was once under water, then forced upward when the Andes were formed 90-60 million years ago during the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras. There are numerous…

We drove west from Purmamarca on Ruta 52 up the Lipan Slope to 13,681 feet on a very twisty turny road. We are moving slowly again today because of the elevation. I think the coca candies are helping. They taste like gritty honey-flavoured herbal cough drops. We are still huffing and puffing walking on flat…

The word quebrada means ‘broken valley’. The Quebrada de Humahuaca is a mountain valley that has been in use as a cultural route between the Andean highlands and the plains for over 11,000 years. It is part of the original Inca trail. People in the small towns still speak Quechua and Aymara and often take…

We had time to sleep in for once this morning. Typical of us we are trying to cram a few months worth of trip into a single month. This is the view out our window this morning. Today was definitely one of the weirder things we have done on vacation! Caravana de Llamas is a…