Saturday, February 9, 2008

Quiet day in an "exclusive" suburb

Mike was wiped out today from the cold and not sleeping last night so we changed plans. Instead of taking a wine tour we grabbed a "remi" or rented car and driver for the twentyfive minute drive out of Mendoza to the exclusive suburb of Chaca de Coria. As we turned off the highway we could see the huge, American style homes. Most were two story homes with tiled roofs and tiny yards guarded by six foot wrought iron fences. If work ever drives up for Eric in LA there is a place for him in Argentina making fences and window guards for the wealthy. It may feel safe but it sure seems like the locals are protecting something. Our posada is a five room estate behind a tall stucco fence (with a wrought iron gate that opens after speaking into the box). Inside the gate is the host family's home, a swimming pool, a four car garage and the posada, with shared living areas such as a living room, tv room and kitchen. It is beautiful. Carlos and his wife made us feel at home even though we arrived two hours before check-in time (we had to go somewhere after check out time at our hotel and Mike was too sick for lunch out). Mike sat in the living room for an hour and a half until the room was ready while I walked the five or six blocks into town to the Super Mercado - a three aisle grocery store. I bought some Sprite for the convalesing husband and some almonds and raisins to sustain us through the missed lunch. Our room is pleasant and air conditioned although it has been cool enough to turn it off. I laid outside in a hammock under some trees for an hour reading until raindrops forced me inside.

This town seems more prosperous than similiar sized towns in Chile. There is a modern mini-mall with about ten clothing boutiques selling things to tourists like leather coats. As you walk around you have to be on your guard all the time to watch for broken bits in the sidewalks. In 1985 there was a massive earthquake in Mendoza of 6.0 that wiped out lots of buildings and wrecked havoc on the sidewalks. It requires that you walk carefully.

It is dinner time (8:30) so I am off to serve crackers and 7Up to the invalid. Tommorrow hopefully his big deep chest coughs will be gone.

Bye, Deanne

2 comments:

Mike Handron Jr said...

Hey dad, I'm sending you positive vibrations from bham to feel better!

Love Mike Jr

WanderingGypsies said...

thanks Mikey. I guess over the course of a six month set of trips it makes sense that we would get hurt and sick once in awhile, but it sure is a drag.
Hopefully Dad will be up soon. He is already hungry which is a good sign after a few days of fasting.
Only another week and we will be in Palm Springs.
We'll call. Love you,
Dee