We had a half day in Mendoza before our bus to Buenos Aries so decided there was just about time to fit in another vineyard. We decided to go back to Maipu and spent a good few hours at Carinae, a lovely vineyard owned by a French couple. As it was the last opportunity and because we had a good few hours, we decided to go the whole hog and taste all of their wines. 15 tasters and a bottle of fizz. Our host, from Uruguay, talked us through each and every one and we understood why so many people recommended this bodega. Once the tasting was finished, we sat in the sun with some cheese, salami and olives (I can finally say I like olives!) and our favourite bottle from their collection.
Then it was time to head back to our hotel and head to Buenos Aries. We’d booked an overnight bus – luxury class – and it was genuinely fantastic. The chairs were so comfortable and they even served food – which was better than the plane food. We boarded the bus about 5pm and didn’t arrive until around 9am so we watched a few films (including one in Spanish with Jane translating) and got a good night’s sleep.
Then with one last day in Buenos Aries, we went to see a last few sights. After a delicious breakfast in Palermo, we headed to the famous Recoleta cemetery. It was the first public cemetery in BA and is where the most significant players of Argentine history rest, including Eva Peron, Evita.
We spent a good hour or so wandering the paths between rows and rows of vaults with stunning mausoleums and monuments. I’m not sure if it’s strange but through my travels I’ve really started to enjoy visiting cemeteries. They’re very peaceful places and good for contemplation.
After that, I spent the afternoon walking home via a beautiful selection of parks with statues, lakes, trees and flowers, stopping frequently to read my book. The two highlights for me were the Japanese Garden, which was a very tranquil place, and the Rose Garden, which was vast and impressive. Although the huge steel flower at the top of one park, with its impressive reflections, was truly stunning too and one tree was so huge it had a man statue holding it up!
I then managed to find the Evita museum and found out more about her life and to learn about such a significant part of Argentine history. The exhibition was full of her quotes and I really found her inspiring.
Then I headed back to the hotel and met the girls for a few hours chill before dinner. We decided to revisit Caldem del Soho, our favourite restaurant of the holiday and it didn’t disappoint. Again, the steaks were incredible – if a bit large. A fantastic end to a fantastic trip.
TheMissMcG's Blog 