10&11.07 - Day 21&22 - Mendoza to Buenos Aires, ARG



Mendonza to Buenos Aires
Saturday 10th July 2010

With another overnight bus at 7pm we have a day of leisure. In the morning sunshine Mendoza’s streets are vibrant with locals enjoying their Saturday morning. A far cry from the more sinister introduction to the city. We take in the various neat and well kept plazas, poke our heads into the Basilica – efficient if unspectacular.

After wandering through the markets we opt for lunch in Aluin restaurant in a popular pedestrianised area. Average food, awful service, overpriced. Best part was the bread rolls. We treat ourselves to coffee and cake at Balcarca, another café on the road of the hostel. We drag out the delicious snack for two hours to be able to watch Germany clinch 3rd spot over Uruguay in the World Cup.

From there its back to the bus station and our Cama seats which recline almost flat onboard our El Rapido Argentina bus. The suggested upgrade for the 14 hour over night bus…



Mendonza to Buenos Aires
Sunday 11th July 2010


... was definitely worth it – over eight straight hours sleep. After our Mendoza bus station incident we make a bee line the taxi rank upon arrival at Buenos Aires (pronounced Buenos Ey-res). 

Driving through BA centre it could be Paris – wide avenues, four/five storey buildings, large bay windows, oversized doors. Conversely the residential streets are narrow – the taxi screeches to a halt outside a four storey white washed building will just a small stencilled graffiti sign saying Chillhouse.




A guest house run by Antoine (French) and Kato (Dutch) with only eight twins/doubles it has a laid back charm perfect for us. Whilst we wait for our room to become available we get the Metro to Florida and the San Telmo market – as suggested by Antoine and also by a Bristolian on the bus to BA. 


As we arrive it starts to rain. And then rain harder. The traders are quickly covering up their wares whilst we’re looking for shelter – briefly, in of all things, a compact Door Museum. By now its early lunchtime so we wend our way back to Chillhouse via a non descript food court. After checking in we get that luxury that is a powerful shower. 

Rather than searching out a World Cup Final venue we settle into the communal lounge and watch Andres Iniesta score in injury time in a game notable only really for the number of yellow cards (13) issued by Howard Webb. “He’s from Rotherham like me” beams Krish. 

Watching the football should be done, as we know, with a Cerveza in hand. Instead droopy eyelids bring us at half time to local coffee and cake house La Violet for a pick-me-up.

Despite feeling comfortable about the workings of a city we’re perhaps still a little cautious so we stroll to a nearby dining venue – Chuba Granda where some lucky dip menu choices results in approximately three kilos of rice with chicken and noodles with beef. Our friendly waitress is so happy with her “Chicos” we both get a kiss goodbye. Feeling glutinous I soon fall asleep leaving Krish playing football on his PSP.