Mr. Hugo Bike Tour - Mendoza, Argentina

Mendoza, Argentina

Malbec and Mr. Hugo. What else is there to know about Mendoza??? We obviously didn't know much other than that, and only had 24 hours in town in order to meet Mark B in Cordoba. Now I'm not really a oenophile, but I can drink a glass or two when there's nothing else to drink. I prefer beer, or at least a big steak to go with my wine. But again, we heard good things about this place. And I'm all about listening to good things about places.

After another 20 hours on a terrible - dirty, old, uncomfortable, non-functioning bus (if you're ever in Argentina, avoid Tramat/Andesmar Bus lines. They're pretty cool tho), we arrived in Mendoza ready for the wine bike tour of a lifetime. 

We stayed at a hostel near the bus station, and the guy who worked there was yet another horrible human. He offered us free breakfast, upgraded us to a private room, drew us a map with directions and told us where the best places in town were, gave us more directions on how to buy a bus card, and then went ahead and just gave us his OWN bus card because it would be easier. We're plotting our revenge against this jerk. Estoy bromeando! One of the coolest people I've ever met, just going out of his way to make sure that we felt comfortable. How can you not like this stuff?

On the bus to the infamous Mr. Hugo's bike tours, we overheard 6 white-ish girls speaking English. When we all got faked out by an impostor - "Hugo's Bike Tours" - we crewed up to get buzzed and go crazy. Emily and Amelie from Canada, Katrina and Ashleigh from Australia, and Romy and Annette from the Netherlands, meet Brian and Boots from U-S-A. Let's go nuts!!!

At Mr. Hugo's, the reputation held up: he had some bikes and a ton of wine. Before asking for any money or even asking our names, we had plastic cups brimming with his home-made malbec. I was trying to get Mr. Hugo to sell Bri the shirt off his back, but unfortunately it was his only one.

After saddling up, we went for our first bodega (winery).

 

This first place included a wine-making museum (Kim's dream) with all kinds of barrels and metal things. I didn't really know what I was looking at, and I was pretty buzzed from the wine at Mr. Hugo's. We opted to keep the party going and passed on the 45 minute tour and went straight for the tastings.

After that first one, we went for the furthest one so we could work our way back to the bike rental. Unfortunately, a 5km bike ride in the heat will wear off your buzz.

My bad Amor Eric Brian.

The second place we visited had the actual vines to look at. It was a small but fannnnncy little bodega, run only by family members. Before heading in, the ladies thought it would be nice to have a picnic so they didn't get too drunk. Me and Bri contributed our food to the cause: 1 alfajor (complementary cookie from the bus) and Brian's day old McChicken sandwich.

Their barrels looked a little more modern.

One of the family members. I was a fan of the family look. The girls in the family's look.

2 candidates for Mr. Sophistication 2012. Classy all the way.

En route to the third spot, we were picked up by the police for biking under the influence. Fortunately here, the police are here to protect YOU (the drunk tourist) from getting hurt by the locals rather than the other way around. Tourism is a powerful thing. From then on, we were escorted by police to make sure we got to our next drinking destination safely.

Ashleigh and Brennan

The last stop also had a tour option that we passed on, going straight for the malbec. We split a couple bottles and sat in reclining chairs as the sun began to set over the vines. STRESS BOWL!!! After those last few drops stained our lips red, we headed back to see the Stress King himself - Hugo.

Just when I thought my buzz was wearing off and feeling a little disappointed we only went to three bodegas (of the 16 or so in the area), we got back to Mr. Hugo and this guy went crazy with his pouring stroke. Literally taking sips, turning my head, and suddenly I have an overflowing cup of wine and a giggling Mr. Hugo. Between Hugo and the hostel guy, I'm starting to hate this place.


Finishing the day with a bus ride packed with locals getting off work was a baaaad move after about 10 glasses of wine.

We pwned that bus: AWOO's and pullups galore, until we were almost too dizzy and tired to even walk to a steakhouse for dinner. When we got to the parilla and ordered steaks, we pretty much knew "this is a bad idea". After about a bite each, we went for the embarrassing move of asking for "para llevar" (to go boxes) and were knocked out by 9:30pm - about an hour earlier a typical Argentina dinner time.

When we woke up the next day to get ready for our bus to Cordoba, it was looking bad. Headaches and weird sores galore, barf bags (our stuff was EVERYWHERE) and still had steaks to eat meant that we were going for a later bus. Well worth the extra time spent in Mendoza since the steak still tasted great out of the microwave.

But fun awaits in Cordoba...Mark B with the tri-namic move of the year. 96%??? Come on man.