Thoughts on Argentina

We've been in Mendoza for the past few days, one of the wine capitals of the world. They make 70 percent of Argentinas wines in the region, but get very little rain. Because they generally rely completely on melt water to irrigate, they can control the weather and produce high quality grapes tear after year. It's quite am impressive water distribution system, and the water only gets diverted to each agricultural area about once every two weeks, which is apparently enough for the grapes, olives and other produce. We went on a tour of some wineries and olive oil plants, one was right across the street from an oil and gas well!

Some thoughts on Mendoza:

- institutions that close before one o'clock everyday and are nit open on weekends: the bank, the library, some museums. Sweet jobs. And no, they don't open very early either
- there are many large intersections(4 lanes each way) that do not have any type of traffic signal in either direction, but there seems to be an understanding of who has the right of way. It also appears that stop signs are only in effect if you see another car coming, otherwise they don't even slow down. There are also intersections that have multiple lights, like on spadina where there are special lights for the streetcars, except here there are no streetcars and one light will be green and the other will be red. Needless to say, we are not driving here. It is enough of an adventure as a pedestrian.
- it is super hot here, reminds us of Mali, except substitute Sara's big hand with Sara's arm covered in bites.