Regarding My Beard Two...

The first post regarding my beard still is among the top 5 most viewed pages of all time.  Given the emails you've sent, I get the sense you're loving it again.  So, back by popular demand, a post regarding my beard. (we'll see if this one pushes its way into the top 5 as well!)

It may look like a 1000 dead wooly bear caterpillars, but it's fierceness gives it purpose in its 4 month of existence.

It is versatile, goes great with a lot of things, and is full of surprises.  For instance:

It goes great with mountains -

It is a good dancer - 

Dogs love it - 

Beer loves it -

People made of stone their respect: 

And flowers from space have chosen it to blossom from: 

I probably won't miss it much it when it is gone, but for now I'm going to enjoy it's splendor for a little while longer.

On that note, I'm off to trim him.  He's looking a little rough around the edges...

In other news, Jon and Jill have headed back to Boston.  Boo!

This was the picture I received this morning when I woke up:

"Oh boy..."

I'm not looking forward to that scenario in a few months, that's for sure. And I'm sorry you are going through it today.

But, if it is any consolation, it means the world to me that you both came down to share part of the adventure with me. Thanks for the Beer, Killers Oeuvre, Tinto, Mega Quesos, Carne, Overnight Buses, Snow, and general shenanigans.  It was a helluva adventure! (even if we did barely made it out of certain days alive.  Particularly that one with Fernet Branca...)

Wine Tasting Two - Biking Boogaloo

I've now gone wine tasting 3 times on this trip. Australia was only one Winery and despite being fun, it didn't get it's own post. We're back on the posts though after really doing it up here in Argentina.

The scene of the crimes was Mendoza and we took in the local wineries by bike:

The views were fantastic, but the biking and tastings were the best part...

We went to a few wineries and a Beer Garden. We sampled Malbecs, Torrentes, Cabernet and Syrahs at most of them.

Familia Di Tommaso Winery - One of the oldest wineries in the area.

The old fermenters made of brick and mortar are now decommissioned, but used for storing bottles. The original lights we covered with dried squash.

Tempus Alba:

Mevi:

And finally a beer garden, of course:

It was a great and delicious day. We even got a police escort home as the sun was setting, but not because we were doing anything wrong. That's just what they do in Mendoza apparently.

Jill Cracks...

It only took a week and a half, but Jill finally had enough of us...

Extreme(ish) Adventures in Mendoza

After a day of Wine tasting (still to be posted), we needed to get our physical activity faces on, so we went into the mountains to bike and zipline, and generally do some silly things. 

This mountain lake was the scene of our crimes:

Jon got really excited to be there and started breakdancing... 

Then we all got a little crazy...

But things did settle down...

The cousins soak in the Andes, before flying high over the lake!

A video of one of the lines can be seen here.

Post 100: 4th of July (with snow)

Belated I know, but Happy 4th weekend to all you 'Mericans out there. 

We took in the day snowshoeing around the base of Aconcagua, the highest peak in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres.  It was epic and might be the only time we'll ever be able to throw snowballs to celebrate the 4th.

The big guy is in the distance... 

We've been very active the last 4 days here in the Mendoza province, so I apologize in advance for the flurry of posts over the next couple days.  It's been fun, it has left us all very sore, but some great adventures too!

Oh and here is Jon's tribute to the Red, White and Blue - Argentine Style:

Punch Buggy Blue...

No punchbacks!

OOOOOOOOOh!

Two Guys, One Girl and Fast Days

Buller's Brewery, Buenos Aires, Argentina

We've been busy the last few days exploring Buenos Aires and Mendoza in Argentina, with a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay.  So busy that I totally missed acknowledging the 20th (and now 21st) country of the adventure. 

But, don't worry, we've been celebrating by indulging in the flavors of wine, beer and meat! 

Jerome Brewery, Mendoza, Argentina

While in Buenos Aires, we also hit the Recoleta Cemetery to see Evita's Grave:

A city of Mausoleums...

The Colorful Neighborhood of La Boca:

Jill got a free Tango lesson with Rico Suave while we were there: 

 The Landmark Floralis Genérica for some shenanigans...

Something started growing out of Jill.  We took of it with beer.

And then our Uruguay adventure, where there were more shenanigans and more beer.   

The ride there was only exciting for one of us...

Barbot Brewery, Colonia, Uruguay with the brewer Edgardo.  A great afternoon discussing beer in broken Spanish.

Today we're off for some wine-tasting by Bike in Mendoza, Argentina.  We promise to do something other than eat and drink in the days to come.  Or at least in addition to those things...