Paging Passengers Wales and Johnston!

We enjoyed our stay at the Airport Hilton so much that we werent ready to sacrifice our buffet breakfast in order to board on time hence our shaky start (i.e. almost missing the flight) for our Argentinian bound adventure! Thanks for the bon voyage platter mum (see the delicious chocky photo above) Four flights later - including losing the will to live during a 5 hour stay at the incredibly dull Santiago airport (how many pretzels can you eat?) we arrived in hot Mendoza. We knew we werent in Kansas any longer when we narrowly escaped a night on the street by realising our hotel reservation was booked under the name of Eduardo instead of Stuart (close but no cigar). Moved the next day to more economical lodgings (could not persuade Stu that the Park Hyatt fitted into our budget). Details for the Nannas peace of mind - small but clean with a bathroom, balcony and cable t.v. so we wont fall behind on the soapies. (see picture of sexy stu stretched out on the matrimonial) all for $35 ozzie. We are slowly getting into the South American groove. Feeling very local, we lay down for a siesta yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately due to jetlag we forgot to get up like the locals tend to, and slept until 7pm - oops.

Not deterred we went out in search of local nightlife to find a rock concert where the locals moshed with curious intensity (see photo where people are predominantly wearing black). Stu and I were separated at the entrance for a close encounter with a military pat down for the chicos and a free gift with a sex pep talk for the chicas. Not overly inspired by the hard rock we went for an adrenalin rush at the neigbouring family carnival. The Castillio Del Terror (Castle of Terror) was the highlight, more for being able to see the dodgy temporary walls than the empty coffins (see photo). A true tast of terror awaited us on the Ferris Wheel when we stopped half way up for a carnival worker to scale the ride (seriously- no attachments) and replace a wobbly safety pin in one of the carriages (gulp). (see photo of Kaz looking relaxed on the ferris wheel - prior to safety scare) Mums - dont worry we have travel insurance! (note to Stu - check insurance for dodgy carnival cover).

Continuing our battle with jet lag, woke up ready to face the day, at 4am. Laughed then had the bright idea of popping a little sleeping tablet. Kaz had half, stu half then the other half after much tossing and turning. We were rudely woken by the maid at 2pm, a little groggy.

In search of a calmer adventure today we took the number 5 trolley bus to the parque San Martin for a swim. After a nurse led us into a small, dark room and prodded our heads and toes for lice and dodgy fungal infections (passed with flying colours) we suffered further humiliation in having to wear undies on our heads (a la Ali G-the local equivalent of a swimming cap). It was all worth the effort getting to chill out by the pool for the afternoon. Feeling a bit peckish - Stu hunted down some empanadas (small pasties). He had a minor communication break down and came back with a dozen instead of two (he still insists he said "dos" instead of "doce"). (see picture of Stu looking sheepish by the pool eating his fourth empanada).



Much more to write, but leave you with these adventures for the moment. Excuse dodgy punctuation, spanish keyboards can give you an upside down question mark, but no apostrophe.


Missing you all, muchos amor, kaz y estuardo xx


Bargain of the week so far(thanks for the idea Milly): 4 croissants, 2 O.J.s and 2 coffees for 3 buckeroos! (breakfast after sleeping in and missing our hotel included breaky)

Sight of the week: man sharing gourmet ice-cream with goose sitting in opposite chair in street cafe - later spotted cycling down street with goose directing from the basket :-)))