Mendoza

This weekend I made the trip into Mendoza, Argentina. It was a very different scene from Vina; more trees, less traffic, and the Spanish was a lot easier to understand. When going to the artisanal market, I noticed a big difference. They had a larger variety of items ranging from knives to stuffed animals. Although I was only about 6 or 7 hours away from Vina, it was interesting to notice what was popular here in Mendoza. There was rings at almost every vendor as well as earrings. Jewellery was a popular selling item. Here in Vina when I walk from vendor to vendor people are very aggressive about trying to sell their items, but this time I didn't feel as awkward or pressured. It made me feel comfortable to stay standing at their stand for a while so that I could look in peace. When making a purchase, the vendor almost always offered a deal if I bought 2. In general I believe many of the vendors had more patience with foreigners/tourists and were willing to help if necessary.