Yesterday Las Lenas opened proper!
And on their first day they offer free skiing to everyone.
Which is an awesome idea. Because it honest to god brings out every single beginner skier in the Mendoza province

Sure this packs the beginner lifts, which is annoying because the beginner lifts are pretty much the only way to get to the rest of the resort BUT your long wait is more than rewarded in the pure spectacule of hundreds of beginner skiers skiing down (or trying to get up) the same beginner slope.

Skiers running into snowboarders running into skiers.
People going straight down the hill, straight across the hill. One gentleman quietly muttering 'meirde' under his breath while accelerating towards the lift line.

And the poma lift!
People couldn't get on it, and once they got on it they couldn't stay on it, and once they fell off it they couldn't get out of the way before the next person ran into them. So just pile ups - five skiers/snowboarders thick- as one would fall off, the next would haplessly run into them and fall, equipment limbs all tangled, and then a third and four person would helpfully throw themselves onto the mix until a liftee would take pity, stop the lift, run up, and sort it all out.

"the gay pogo stick from hell' was how one exasperated (although non-pc) snowboarder described the poma lift.

And the outfits!
One peices, jeans, massive sunglasses, no hats (definitely no helmets). Rear-entry boots galore. Skies from at least the 80s.

As for the actual skiing - needs a bit more snow to go off piste -we met up with Adam (runs a touring company out of Mendoza, used to film for Warren Miller Productions) who showed us around - but a bit too thin snowpack for my tastes) But we're all eyeing a storm that is supposed to be moving in tomorrow. Here hopes is comes.

Ted! the Roommate has shown up, and he's cool and awesome. Les keeps on trying to get me out on another tour and I' m like dude - the chair lifts are now running!!!!!!!

The place (apartment) is a bit of a disaster:
- fridge doesn't close
- lights burnt out
- shower clogged
- huge drafts

But whatever. Came here to ski afterall!

ps. just meet Yaya The Famous Mendoza Womanizer. Eh.
;)

eta: Yaya turned out to be a total sweetheart :)