maipu bike and wine tour pics

Cycling in Maipu Wine Region, Mendoza

We spent a morning before heading to the Andes cycling and tasting wine (chocolate featured more than wine) in Maipu just outside of mendoza. It was a beautiful sunny day on lovely old, red, ladies bicycles with baskets in the front for purchases :)

We tasted the real malbec beauty of the region and feasted on Olive oil, olives, olive paste, boutique chocolate and liquores all before 12pm...mmmm (including russian death (a local made chemical concoction), dulce de leche of all varieties and some delicious port wines).

It was delicious

Iguazu Falls (Brazil side)

Today we caught a local bus over the border, into Brazil to view the falls from "their" side. We followed little walkways along the side of the falls and even right across some!!

I do not know how to describe the sheer size and volume of the falls. It just makes you realize how small we humans really are. What a beautiful place!!

Guira Oga, Puerto Iguazu

Our over-night bus trip to Iguazu Falls was quite an experience. South Africa please take note of the following: we each had a massive big seat, that could (nearly) fully recline, with a rest for your legs. We got blankets, pillows and 3 meals!! Some whiskey after (early) supper and beer and champagne with the late supper... Very comfortable bus!!

We decided to save the waterfall for a "full day" and on our first day here we decided to visit an animal sanctaury: GUIRA OGA - they help rehabilitate wild animals that have been hurt or captured by humans. They help birds and mamals of all sizes - maccaws, toucans, eagles, owls, vultures...even small crocodiles and turtles :) The centre is situated within the massive rain forest that surrounds the little town of Peurto Iguazu. Quite a special place

Our last day in BA

Our last day in Buenos Aires broke sunny and pleasant. After a breakfast of cereals, bread, fruit and good coffee we headed into the streets looking for street art. The area around our hostel was decorated with some amazing art and we followed this deeper and deeper into town. We worked our way along cobbled, tree-lined streets back towards the centre of town. Here street bands were performing and church bells ringing!!
On our way back to our hostel we came across colourful parades from Bolivia - all marching towards the central square. Loud, colourful and inspiring!!
Empanadas for lunch before we caught the over-night bus to Iguazu falls in the far north of the country.
What a special city!!

Buenos Aires is art

Yesterday we ambled a good 16km through Buenos Aires, along Florida Road, through Jose de Sainte Martin Park where we watched some amazing dog whisperers at the doggie day care :), ate empanadas and drank fabulous coffee at Pizzaria la Torre del Retino. We visited the Museo National de Bellas Artes where we saw works by Monet, Manet, Renoir, Van Gogh, Rodin, Goya, Rembrandt van Rijn, Reubens, Rothko, Pollock, Picasso, Degas, Henry Moore, Wassily Kandinsky, de Vlamink, Henri Roussou, Cezanne, Gauguin, Miro, Chagall, Diego Rivera, Modigliani and paul klee...it was just amazing!!!!!!! We also visited the Recoletta Cemetery where all the rich and famous, including Evita are buried and wormed our way through the maze of sarcophigi and grave stones of Buenos Aires' necropolis.

Needless to say, once again we didn't make the amazing BA night life and we fell into bed at 11pm...the time when everyone else steps outside for supper and a vino tinto or cerverza.

Tango

Yesterday afternoon we found a small Tango dance hall were local people meet & learn to dance the tango. We asked if we could come and watch them practice later that evening. They were very friendly and invited us to join them in the lesson.

The teachers were brilliant and helped us master the basic 8 steps of the tango. (not the fancy stuff, just the basic steps) We had such a wonderful evening!!

In the words of Stella our teacher "Remember the tango is dances HEART to HEART"