Nov. 2
We left Mendoza for Chos Malal around 9:30 a.m., and it was a beautiful day for a drive! By the time we reached Tunuyan, we realized the so-called gas shortage was probably not a thing. No lines that we could see what-so-ever, ninety minutes south of our house! The same thing was true in Malargue; the gas attendant said they had seen no problems at all, and we had no line. Highlights of the drive: the clouds- just incredible as you’ll see from the photos and videos, and the schist, a metamorphic, lava-like rock composed of minerals. We had seen this before, the last time we drove south maybe 5 years ago, and it is stunning to see…as if you are at the bottom of the world or back in time, or at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. We arrived at Hotel Terra Malal around 6:30pm, cleaned up and walked a few blocks to a lovely restaurant for dinner.
Hotel Terra Malal: The hotel is fantastic, given it’s location, literally in the middle of nowhere in Neuquen, Argentina. We stayed here the last time we came through when they had just opened. They have expanded to 30 rooms, redone the reception and breakfast area, and added stylish common areas, a pool and a lovely garden. Very basic rooms but it’s really the only hotel in Chos Malal.
