We left Mendoza by bus early in the AM, only to step off 1.5 hrs later on some deserted road in the mountains. We followed a dirt road past abandoned shacks and surprise--surprise some lounging stray dogs, to what Olivia calls ¨her heaven on earth.¨ Oh my.
We knew we were in a good place when we entered the hotel lobby and saw people in terrycloth robes. We were guided immediately to the thermal baths and instructed to spend 10 minutes in each place. First was the introductory thermal spa-- protected by the strong sun by a whitish translucent rooftop, a cozy circular hot spring bath with a dramatic stream of water filling it, which made for a nice natural massage when we lingered under it. Then 10 barely tolerable minutes in a sauna. It was literally blasted out of the hillside rock, was dark and a little too hard core for our already weary and somewhat dehydrated bodies. Then we were led to the mud pit where we played like pigs, from hair to heels. We dried in the sun, and ended up resembling the weird street performers that paint themselves all gold and stand unhumanly still on the street. We rinsed and enjoyed a soak in the more extensive hot springs in the fresh air, overlooking the river running thru the canyon, wild flowers and poplar trees aplenty. Ahhhh.
We breaked for lunch, the most amazing buffet which had everything imaginable grilled (meats and vegetables of all kinds) as well as an extensive dessert bar. In the afternoon we digested poolside. The larger pool for swimming is set higher up from the baths, the same level as the hotel. Although there were many sunbathers, there were few people frolicking in the pool, which made for ideal leisurely lap swimming. The front crawl was a challenge (hard to have your face in bath temperature water for too long), but other strokes were a delight, especially being able to view the mountains and sky during the back stroke.
4:00 was massge time. Although relaxing, our solo complaint was that the promised 40 minutes turned out to be more like 25 or 30... oh well...
More hot spring enjoyment before and after dinner, despite the chilly temperatures and brisk breezes after sundown.
Happy hour was particularly fun when we chatted with a Rosita and Carlos, a couple from Mar de la Plata, a coastal city south of BA. Again, we have found the people of Argentina quite lovely (with the exception of that thief of a taxi driver and some bitch Olivia was sitting next to just now at the internet cafe), and Rosita and Carlos were the nicest of the nice. They invited us to visit them and vice versa... someday...
And finally-- our first night sleep on a real mattress!!! Down with FOAM, up with SPRINGS!!!
The next day, until 2:30 was more of the same heaven on earth. And then we adventured deeper into the Andes...
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