Mother H

We awoke early in Cordoba, grabbed the free hostel breakfast and jetted to Capilla del Monte via minibus. Capilla del Monte is a small town in the Central Sierra mountains of Argentina. It is known as a mystical place place that attracts extra-terrestrial visitors, is the home of a subterranean world of Elves, and is the center for some neo-hippie followings.
We strolled around town looking for a place to stay and everyone we spoke to seemed a bit odd. Perhaps below their everyday veneer lurked a great understanding of mystic energy and universal consciousness that was only manifested in this region - or maybe they´d just been alone in the mountains too long. We found a cheap, bare concrete room with a space heater and two beds then we made our way back out.
We hiked to a small gorge on private property and gazed at the landscape. We then understood why this place was thought to contain elves and other fairy tale creatures. The land was other-worldy with numerous tiny caves, crevasses, and natural rock sculptures set in craggy creek beds.
Zach almost stepped on a snake. I believe Zach would be a good guest writer for a "dangers and annoyances" section of a travel book.
We found our way out and strolled around for quite awhile longer then returned to the hostal after dinner and tried to get the space heater to light. Frank and I nearly lost our eyebrows. I tried to go around front and ask the landlady but the front door never opened. Everytime I rang all I heard was a single phrase uttered (in spanish of course) that I could not comprehend. Finally, I rang the bell and the adjacent windows flew open to reveal the naked, corpulent body of the 50+ year-old landlady.
"I am taking a shower"
"OH MY, yes, yes"
"15 minutes - OK?"
"Of course - of course"
The heater worked fine after her help.

Arriving early in the morning from Mendoza Frank, Zach and I made our way through the streets of Cordoba. We checked into a mega-hostel with dozens of beds, 2 bathrooms, a single knife in the kitchen and phrases etched on the wall, such as:

I´ve slept witha different girl in each and every bed each night. I got drunk and pissed on all the door handles, and I farted repeatedly in the fridge.
Of course, non of the above is true. But I have had an amazing time here. THANK YOU SO MUCH EVERYONE - you have the perfect hostel!
Leo Holfirth - England
P.S. Never want to leave!

Some Israeli girls gave us a hard time about how long it took to cook our delicious vegetable medley.
After dinner the hostel screamed to life. Everyone in the common spaces smoking, drinking and listening to oasis covers by a local duo. Yikes!
We arose early the next morning to catch a bus to a national park known its´Andean Condor population.
Our sleepiness wore off as we made our way through the beautiful grasslands and craggy gorges of the park. We saw two condors far in the distance and a meadowlark stole cheese out of my hand.

After our bus trip from Santiago Zac, Frank, and I spent a day enjoying the city of Mendoza. The town is absolutely beautiful with large parks and squares populated with abundant trees now losing their leaves in the first months of winter.
We ambled around and bought some produce (including the best damn fennel root I´ve ever eaten) and cooked while watching the spurs lose their final game of the series.
We went to bed with lowered spirits but arose early to catch a bus to Maipu - a region known for its´wine production.
We arrived and rented bikes - intending to teach Zach to ride a bike in a short time then visit a few of the vineyards.
Zach was a champion and with the help of his brother was riding a bike in under an hour.
Team Kearl strikes again.
We pedaled down the beautiful roads to the first bodega and received a free tour and tasting. Unbelievable wines.
We entered a subterranean cellar and could smell the fermentation.
The countryside continued to get prettier with the fading light. We all fell in love with the place - Frank gathered information on living/working there.
We hit two more vineyards that day then hopped a bus to Cordoba.
Zach only fell once.