Mendoza 1.
January 2011.
We arrive at Nicolas and Melissende house in Mendoza.
They live in a large modern house in a secured compound.
Children enjoy swimming.
It is the middle of the summer, and the weather is rather hot.
Although they are not young anymore, men still behave like kids, and most of the battle goes underwater.
Good to think that they are still the same as 15 years ago.
Children are delighted to find a real home full of books and games and especially friends to play with them.
Tugdual takes the opportunity to test the buoyancy of its volcanic stone.
Nicolas is amazed.
At the end of the day, men go to do some shopping, although nothing is missing !
Nicolas prepares excellent asados with sweetbreads and fresh bacon.
The children are enjoying as much as the parents.
On Sunday morning, we all go at Mass in Spanish, and of course all the kids want to go with the Mehari.
We are lodged like kings at the guest house of Bodega Terrazas de los Andes, managed by Nicolas.
This beautiful cellar is part of the Argentinian subsidiary of Moet et Chandon.
Ici tout n'est qu'ordre et beauté, luxe, calme et volupté... (French poet Baudelaire)
(Here all is order and beauty, luxury, calm and voluptuousness ... )
We get used to this luxury life!
The children spot rather quickly the sweetness boxes, and with the courtesy of Nicolas, they abuse all day long.
While the boys make a game of chess,
parents enjoy the shadow of the garden.
Nicolas shows us around the winery, explaining in detail the process of winemaking, from the grape to the bottle,
including the ageing inside oak barrels.
Children discover with interest the world of wine.
Several millions of bottles are produced here every year, most of them being sold overseas.
Nicolas and Melissende invite us to discover the talent of the chef of Terrazas during a dinner where we taste the wines of the winery.
And even Charlotte enjoys drinking.
Small pleasures that we had almost forgotten...
We go to visit Mendoza, and we really appreciate this city with trees everywhere and pretty squares.
But Matthieu, tired from walking, is carried by the children.
He will eventually drop in the middle of the street.
We are amazed by the skills of a few youths, riding bikes with agility.