Travel Week 21
Day 141:
| Bus ticket to Mendoza | 530 |
| Luggage | 20 |
| Starbucks coffee beans | 520 |
| Hot dog and beer | 180 |
| Total: | 1250 ARS (16.13 USD) (RMB 114.5) |
Finally back in a big enough city where I could buy some damn coffee beans. The drop in tourism is already very apparent with the hostel only 30% occupied. I luck into a room upgrade (4 bed -> 3 bed) with no roommates my first night.
Day 142:
| Indian buffet | 230 |
| Ice cream | 90 |
| Personal recharge | 200 |
| Wine and Salami | 295 |
| Club soda | 80 |
| Total: | 895 ARS (11.55 USD) (RMB 81.9) |
The mood in Mendoza is starting to deteriorate as the international travelers are coming in from or heading off to Chile and rumors circulate about border closings. Nevertheless, Base Camp hostel maintains its regular nightly parties with free flow (headache inducing) wine and I end up going out to a nightclub for an hour or two. The nightclubs will be closed within a day or two.
Day 143:
| Diet coke and potato chips | 130 |
| Coffee @ Brod | 110 |
| Asado in hostel | 450 |
| Total: | 690 ARS (8.90 USD) (RMB 63.6) |
My hangover was so bad, I couldn’t even be bothered to make coffee. In the cafe, pouring over a newspaper, the government is tightening border controls, but announces that schools will not be closed. The asado dinner, which is the only reason I am staying in this hostel, was slightly disappointing.
Day 144:
| Fresh pasta | 250 |
| Dun Ken Coffee | 100 |
| Steak and salad | 290 |
| Total: | 640 ARS (8.26 USD) (RMB 58.6) |
It’s hard to tell if the city is quiet because of Coronavirus fears or just a normal Sunday where everything is shut down. I track down a cafe in the afternoon just to read the newspaper, which had a headline mentioning foreigners and hotels. The provincial government will impose mandatory quarantines on all persons entering Mendoza province. The tourist industry is already suffering major losses with hotel bookings down 80%. I cook a dinner with a fellow American in the hostel.
Day 145:
| Campo Base (4 nights) | 1450 + 1.46 |
| Mendoza Inn (6 nights) | 1530 |
| HH Pint | 100 |
| Beers | 660 |
| Total: | 49.72 USD (RMB 352.8) |
Time to move to the fancier neighborhood with all the nice bars, restaurants, and cafes. So far nothing is closed, but the hostel only has about a dozen guests. I locked in a spectacular price for a dorm room. I go out for beers and papas with a couple of them that night. The bars have large dispensers of alcohol gel and some tables (all terrace seating) are closed to ensure social distancing. The border is closed, all international flights are cancelled.
Day 146:
| Lunch Set | 360 |
| Six Pack IPAs | 450 |
| Total: | 810 ARS (10.45 USD) (RMB 74.2) |
Have a nice lunch, including drink (with choice of alcoholic drinks), main, and dessert. About a third of the guests leave the hostel, but a handful wander in, including a Czech girl who shared a potato and lentle soup with me. I patronize a Chinese-owned supermarket to help balance out global racism. About a quarter of the shops on Avenida Aristades decided to shut down and a group of police are monitoring the start of the bar street. A rather disappointing St Patricks Day, especially when I would have preferred to visit bodegas. It is announced that intercity travel will be halted in two days.
Day 147:
| Salad | 100 |
| Buffet | 240 |
| Wine(s) | 450 |
| Total: | 790 ARS (10.19 USD) (RMB 72.3) |
Heading into downtown in search of a place to make a salad, the closures are much more obvious. Nevertheless, a handful of cafes, fast food joints, and ice cream parlors are carrying on. Another quarter of the establishments on Aristades have closed down. Hostel is refusing new guests. I make do with olives and a bag of potato chips for dinner. Everyone is making plans to leave, but that doesn’t stop the partying.
Running Total: 3771.02 USD (RMB 26761)
Daily Average: 25.65 USD (RMB 182)