Postscript

Enjoying the street scene in Mendoza

Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza

7 tonne, 100+ year old olive oil press

Once back in Mendoza, we had just over a week to kick back, relax, eat, drink and explore the beautiful city.  Of course we were tourists, but the pace of life seemed to have a more relaxed, less frenetic feel to it.  The practice of the siesta contributed mightily to this impression - most businesses and other activities shut down from about 1:30 - 4:30 pm every day, and pick up again afterward.  During this time we would typically take a rest and be ready to go again by the end of the afternoon.  Starting at about 8 pm, diners would think about eating, and it wouldn't be until 10 or 10:30 pm that dinner would be in full swing.  After dinner we would stroll in Plaza Indepencia, a major park in the middle of town, where craftspeople, street performers and food vendors plied their respective trades; and families, lovers and tourists mingled in the warm, mid-summer nights.  Our evenings invariably ended around midnight with a trip to the helados (ice cream) shop.  One day we took a long walk to a huge park north of town which purportedly included a zoo (we never found it), and a 1976-vintage soccer stadium, built for the 1978 World Cup hosted by Argentina.  Another day we went to Maipú - a nearby agricultural city where we visited a couple olive oil production estates, and a Bodega - winery.  We all agreed that the time we spent in Mendoza was a couple of days longer than needed, so we were good and ready to return home after a week of leisure and indulgence.

Bodega Cecchin in Maipú

Al fresco lunch under a walnut tree in the vineyard

Reflecting on our four weeks in Argentina at the end of our journey, we all had a great sense of  accomplishment that can only be achieved by identifying and working hard toward a goal.  I was reminded that many of the greatest satisfactions in my own life have been borne from situations in which the toil was great and where the outcome was uncertain - something I will try to keep in mind as I plan future endeavors.

I have posted a compilation of some of the best photos of our expedition to Cerro Aconcagua taken by me and Steve at: http://picasaweb.google.com/gclawrence/AconcaguaDec2010Jan2011?authkey=Gv1sRgCPGm-qXH6qDePQ#

I have enjoyed keeping this blog, and believe there will be more blogs in my future.  One of topics I will be blogging about is my experience with the purchase of a new electric car - the Nissan Leaf:  http://livingwithleaf.blogspot.com/.  I have had a Leaf reserved for nearly half a year, and am told that I will actually be able to order one of some 20,000 to be delivered in the US this year, sometime in February, taking delivery 2 - 3 months later.  My interest is to not only share my impressions of this automobile, but more importantly to critically investigate the true energy efficiency and viability of electric vehicles.  At this point, I need to be convinced that these vehicles will make a positive contribution to energy conservation and reducing carbon footprint.