Mendoza - dest 8

After a month of travelling. Mainly in cold below 15 degree and wet weather, it was certainly a treat to get to this 20 plus temperature to enjoy the much talked about wine and steak of Mendoza. I decided to stay for two nights at the Lemon Tree hostel which is located within one of the wine areas so I was close enough to the wineries. 

A completely eclectic hostel right from the unique and clearly talented art work all across the hostel to its even bizarre statues hidden behind every door and to the garden with its pool, big asado area and of course farm life. The first day was spent enjoying the sunshine, taking a nap, reading in the hammock and looking forward to the evening asado the host was preparing for us

Lemon Tree hostel

Time to chill in the hammock

And what a meal it turned out to be! All kinds of meat, a lot of meat, a huge gallon of wine the Argentinian version of goon wine is way better! He started the fire around 6/7pm and it took a good hour for or meat to be made. The hostel was surprising full and full of just guys, 4 from England, 2 lovely Canadian cowboys from Calgary and some locals. It was a great bunch of people and the night was turning into an epic one and began with the meat. 

Hands down the best asado I had in Argentina, not to say the cheapest as well. I’m not usually a pork eater but my god the pork was amazing, I must have eaten for at least 2 people if not more and just didn’t wanna stop. The meat simply melted away in your mouth. Already Mendoza was living up to its hype. The guys had done a winery tour and had some lovely bottles of wine they shared and so the evening began on a great note. 

With some more wine the evening turned into one hell of a night. Post that it was time for some drunken ping pong and at this point the English men confirmed my previous experiences of them being cheating pricks. The Canadians though came to the rescue and brought out old school pipes! I’d never smoked one, I mean it literally looked like the pipe Gandalf smoked in Lord of the Rings and it was so smooth. Then there was music and it was time to salsa. I can definitely say that the Canadian cowboys were two of the nicest gentlemen I’ve ever met. After an eventual and meat and wine filled night I was ready for bed by 2am. 

So much food!

More meat

The English, Canadian and Argentinan crew

The next morning was slightly tough but since it was year marked for wine tasting I knew a good hare do the dog would get me through. We had breakfast and Austin, myself and another bloke from the hostel took the cycles and headed towards the wineries.