Entering Argentina: Cha-cha-cha-changes
We took a night bus from Valparaíso, Chile to Mendoza, Argentina with Tur Bus. We slept pretty well except the middle of the night border crossing that lasted forever! Since it was dark we missed the mountain pass and are still looking for Aconcagua in the distance to no avail. It’s amazing how just crossing a border you notice lots of changes, such as:
- Everyone seems to own a gourd and is drinking Yerba Mate with a metal bombilla at all hours.
- Stuff’s a little cheaper than Chile, but still more than Peru
- The people give detailed accurate directions that are correct
- The Chilean hot dog obsession is non-existent, it’s more about the steak here
- Lots of Italian food, not so much Chinese food, rice or potatoes (like in Peru). In the supermarket there was a whole refrigerated section devoted to raviolis, gnocchis and tortellinis.
- Most restaurants don’t open until 8 or 9pm (hard on my tummy!)
- Much fewer PDA’s than Chile. I swear, on almost every public park bench in Chile people of all ages were sucking face like they would never see each other again. This was observed in every town we visited in Chile. I don’t get it.
- A lot of guys in Argentina are tall, fit and have long curly hair. Chile and Peru were filled with guys ranging from short to average height with a short haircut…and curly hair was quite rare.
- Not as much fresh juice like in Peru, where every fruit was turned into juice. It was rare in Chile, but we’re finding a few places in Buenos Aires (kiwi juice, anyone?)
Keep in mind they are overexaggerated generalizations after a few days in each country.