11 - 15 Feb Mendoza - and the grass is greener...

'You are now leaving Patagonia. Please dispose of your empty wallets responsibly and remember to expel all unused fresh air from your lungs on your way out.'

I was looking forward to my return to a warm climate, after nearly a month in the windy, rainy south. My feet were itching to be out in flipflops and I've nearly forgotten what my shorts look like.
However, three hours after arriving, I'm sunburnt, covered in sweat and have sandal blisters on my re-tender feet. And my knee is sore again from having bashed it on an unidentified piece of bus on a nature call in the middle of the night. Also cursing the hostel for not being able to let me in my/any room early, to shower off the 20 hour journey, put away my valuables and actually consider what I do and do not need in my daypack for a hot and sunny city morning. (Walking round a city with all your money, passport , computer and electrical goods= not smart. And heavy. Having no sun cream on you= plain stupid)
Frustrated by the bigness and busy-ness of the city after my small Patagonian towns, I decided to seek solace in the enormous 'Parque San Martin', with the promise of views of both the city and the Andres from the top of Cerro Gloria on the far side.
Instead I find the green laced with roads, rendering it impossible to escape traffic noise, and the small wooded area in which I sit to cool off from the 30 minute walk covered in discarded condoms and wrappers. Nice. The intermittent noises of a soundcheck waft my way - I may go and investigate, but I'm also determined to get to the top of the hill. 45 minute walk, my guidebook suggests.
Hmm - this guidebook is for old people, I bet it's no more than 30.
Maybe - with some shade and proper shoes, and without a full backpack and blazing midday sun.
The park slopes gently uphill, becoming scrubbier, drier and with greater breaks between the shade. After a Lawrence-of-Arabia-esque eternity, I arrive sweating and steaming at the base of the cerro, to be greeted to my delight by a kiosk selling ice-cold 7-up.
15 minutes later, fortified, I began the ascent. It wasn't far but it was steep, and at the top I had to pause in some shade to catch my breath and cool down a little again.
I found myself watching a few crazy runners who had jogged all the way up.... only to realise after a few minutes that it wasn't a crazy few, there were a good 30 or so. And some of them were doing LAPS. I balked at my own shameful state of unhealthiness... then proceeded to open my guidebook to the chapter on how to get the most wine tasting out of my Mendozan wine tour.