Anyway, onto the Aconcagua drive from Mendoza-5+ hours into the Andes to the tallest peak in South America. You basically are driving through the Andes mountains that separate Argentina from Chile. I wish I bought the souvenir scarf from the women who lost their children in BA because I could use it RIGHT NOW to gag everyone in the car as I am driving out of town. Car driving lessons are going well and mom is really teaching me some stuff. NOT! I was very happy to give the driving to Jen but in the 10 minutes she was driving, the PO PO finally got her (no lights on which is the law of the country) or as we call them Jamon or peurco (Ham or Pork). We were able to get out of it and did not even have bribe the officer. I was proud of Jen for how she handled the authority, it could have gone a different way. Mom never yells at Jen when she drives which is usually after Dad and I have been drinking! What an awesome day and great idea from Dad, who read the 4" thick Argentina book yesterday morning. The drive was beautiful, and even though I did not see a chinchilla or a llama, I was content at the end of the day. If I go back, I will take the raft ride down the Rio Mendoza and Mountain Bike around the Lake. Both were off the table on this trip.
In the morning, we were off to Bariloche on an mutually agreed upon depart time of 7:30AM, but take close notice to the pictures below taken of Jen blowdrying her hair at 7AM (30 min ahead of schedule) and mom and dad, standing at the door, packed with jackets and backpacks on (also at 7AM!). Airport-no issues, return car-no issues, checked bags-no issue, poles through security-no issue, board, fly, land, connect, board, fly, land, get bags-no issue. Rental car #2-Met with a little issue as they wanted to hit my amex for 17k as a deposit. I talked my way out of it "pretending I don't speak fluent Spanish", bags to car, walk through on large new car which was scratched everywhere, had a bullet hole in it and a replacement value of 35k(for an $8000 car!) but went ok, surprisingly. The car is insured as long as car does not roll over, or get stolen (not sure if gun shots are covered). No worries, its El Classico (soccer Real Madrid Vs Barcelona) day and Dad, Jen and I are wearing our Jerseys ready for the big game. Checked in our Air BNB or what we told Dad was a hotel (he doesn't get why someone would rent us their apartment, how we met them, how we paid, etc. ) Awesome, unbelievable, overlooking the water in the hills down a 1/2 mile dirt road, 12 steep steps and a porch that may fall down hill at anytime. Went to bar called Friends to watch the game, mom and dad on one side of table watching one tv and Jen and myself on the other side watching another TV on opposite wall. Jen says,"Mickey do you want to switch seats with me so you can watch next to John?" and he replies, "I'll have the hamburger with nothing on it and fries."
Mom befriended the table next door and the family from Chile will be coming this year for Christmas. I think I overheard mom agreeing to have Michael and Kelli host the high school kid for a year. Mom's Spanish was on fleek!(unless she agreed to above). They got the whole enchilada, which is what I call--the place where dad grew up Missiones (Posadas), move to US at 18, trip back to Argentina in '69 and '13 and Mikaela visiting Gibraltar and playing soccer. Then onto the places they have been in common. I admire their way they travel. To the market and then home for the night. No American Tv (remember, we are in South America) so I put on the Movie, OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN on my laptop, set up mom and dad and gave a brief Synapsis of how Gerard Butler, a secret service agent, who lost one POTUS in the opening scene (wasn't his fault), came back in a few years later and saved the White House from being taken by a radical group. I felt like I was in the movie, Say Anything, when Lloyd Dobler and Diane Court set up the movie Cocoon for the retired home and have to explain the whole thing. They both seemed to really like the movie.
On a side note, Thanks Abby and Spez for helping me with the VPN, NOT, IT SUCKS! (VPN allows you to trick the TV into thinking you are in the US so you can watch US TV for everyone over the age of 25). I will also shout out to Abby and Spez touring in Venice. I had to buy their lunch because Spez texted me a copy of the menu unsure of what type of wine he would like as they do not have Pinot Noir (they do not have Apothic Red, apparently), and I chose one from the list. Well I guess I picked the most expensive one, as they did not send me the prices, so I can see how this is my fault completely. I also talked them out of stealing a boat after they asked me how I hot-wire one (I was so proud to tell Abby how to hot wire any boat in 10 seconds and thought for a split second, maybe she would want to take over family business. and then asked myself, "why is she asking that??).
Woke up in the middle of the night, sweating like I was in a turkish prison, and decided to open the unscreened window (fingers crossed I got the right shots at the travel clinic). I knew it wasn't dad screwing with the thermostat because he did that in Mendoza when he woke up at 2am and turned off the air-conditioner; he was cold. The system in this place was way too complicated for him to do that. Woke up again to find dad reading the 4" Argentina tour book and telling us all the awesome things we could have done in Mendoza, YESTERDAY. Great info Pop, just 36 hours too late.
RETRACTION on the french press gift from the last blog. The actual gift was given to me by KC not Sarah, BUT Sarah showed me how to use it and I am sure Sarah helped KC as Sarah is a huge coffee drinker and KC is not. Sorry if I offended anyone with the mis-information.
Shout out to Bridgett for turning 21 (although I thought she was 23 as she has been drinking at my house for many years) and to Bren Dog fro turning 18. I am so proud of both of you and I never thought you would make it this far. Kieren on the other hand, I am a little disappointed in you and a little more in Betty. I heard through a somewhat reliable source that you Pee'd three times on poor Betty, Seriously? I always go to the bathroom after my second pee dream-And Betty, after time #1, why did you not leave? Are you like, "he never does it twice" and then after that, "he would never do it at third time!" You are still sleeping in PEE from the first time. I wish I was celebrating with you all in BOSTON! #howlatthemoon Also, to Lil Alex, I will get you that Patagonia hat for 30 pesos. (T-bone I also heard you left your credit card for the bar tab-Rookie move! That is a life lesson that I have learned a few times).
Today was the first time my Dad ever paid to get on a boat in Argentina. The other 7 times he was a stowaway. We took a 1938 boat to an island in the middle of the lake and were to hike the trails in the national park. This is what the poles were for! The hike was 70 Meters on a boardwalk where the poles were actually dangerous because the cracks in the floor were so thick. They had a really cool Arboretum that had a tree from every obscure place on earth planted to see how the environment would handle. There was nothing from Columbia and Mexico, which I was looking hard for. We are down to fumes and anyone that knows the real story of the Jews and the Menorah will pray for us. I am licking oils. On the positive side, Dad always wanted to see the redwoods (Sequoias) and had not until today in Argentina where they planted a bunch.
Jen and I went throughout the boat extensively as our plan is to sell our house and buy a touring boat and make it our house. We were walking around and laying out our living room, kitchen, bedrooms, movie theater and wine cellar. Most of the people were just watching us in bewilderment--operation House Boat and NO MORE TAXES. I finally found as close to an American IPA bar as you can find outside of the USA. Inside it looked like an American pub with American music, and a bunch of IPA's. I ordered 2 right off the bat (the American way) because I saw it was busy and that thru them for a loop. It said 7.3% but that has to be incorrect, it was way lower or my threshold has increased substantially (flip of a coin). Dinner was awesome, best so far. The name of the place Manush and I highly recommend. Back to house where we only had one bottle of wine left but it was no contest as I beat my dad down the rickety steps in the dark to claim the bottle. Sorry dad, getting old sucks.
Tomorrow on to the 7 lakes drive which will be in next blog.
The nice thing about Argentina is there is (or appears to be) no zoning laws, EPA, enforcement of any type, security, etc. There is literally no Spanish translation for blight.
Traveling in these foreign countries is really awesome and seeing how other people live is a great perspective. The best part is how proud they are about their heritage and country. I know there is a lot of negativity about the US and you can say what you want about The United States, but in every single instance and every single place, product, item, etc, , you give me the best anywhere else and I will give you a match or better in the USA. I am proud of our country like everyone here is proud of theirs. #America
Shout out to John and Jen-March; Anniversary of buying marina 21 years ago and yes Chris Craft I have my phone and laptop and am working while on my vacation.
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