Travels in Argentina - Mendoza

Mendoza was my favorite city in Argentina. The weather was fantastic, the people were nice, and it was a lovely end to my travels in Argentina. We spent almost a week there and it was hard to say goodbye.

We stayed at a hotel for one night before moving to a hostel so we could use the kitchen. Our hotel was on a street that used to be divided by railroad tracks. The tracks are still there but no longer in use, all vacant land or parking lots.



This city had a supermarket that was so big, they had a special bus that picked people up and took them there.



There was a huge park which we visited at least three times. It was a great place for a walk and a picnic.

Fountain in the park





This park also allegedly contains a big hill--Cerro de la Gloria (the Hill of Gloria) with a monument to the independence of Chile and Argentina on top. This was supposed to be about a 5K (3 mile) walk from the entrance of the park. The first part of the walk was along a nice tree-lined street, which soon gave way to unshaded gravel and then to the shoulder of a highway seemingly in the middle of nowhere. We had asked the information lady and she pointed the way and gave us a map, which indicated that we were going the right way. After a long hot walk, we found the zoo, and then the stairs up the hill. The monument was not particularly impressive but it gave us something to do for the day and a picnic spot with a nice view. (Unfortunately, my camera card was full, so I´m waiting for René to send me the photos.)

All throughout the city and the park were canals. Somedays they were full and other days just a trickle of water ran through. They also had a system for diverting the water into the preferred direction.

In the park



In the city



Mendoza also has a very nice Central Plaza. My favorite thing about it was the Grape Juice lady. She sold small cups of juice for about $.30 and large ones for $.60. I think it tasted like raisins and René thought it tasted like non-alcoholic wine. Anyhow, it was great and I had some every day except the last, when she was closed =(



There´s a big fountain in the Plaza but I didn´t get a photo of it when it was on.



At night, they turn on the neon! This is a giant (at least three stories) crest of the province.



Plaza España was my favorite because of all the tile work.





We took a day trip to thermal baths about 1.5 hours outside of the city by public bus. Argentines of every shape and size filled about seven pools of varying depth and warmth. The unheated wavepool and "flowing river" features were almost completely vacant. It was really nice to get out of the city and into the water; my first swim since Guatemala!

Our favorite coffee place. It was absolutely lovely until we got the bill, $14 for two coffees and two slices of cake! (usually it would be about $6)



Havanna, the Starbucks of Argentina.



Bank protest



We also took a day trip to Maipu (pronounced "my poo"), at least partly because we wanted to say that we visited Maipu. No one ever outgrows body humor =)

Maipu, the best place to live



Central Plaza flower clock





The main reason most people go to Maipu is for the wine. Most of the wine in Argentina comes from this region. Unlike in Cafayate, most of the vineyards are quite a ways out of town, but we walked to two close to the center and had some tastings.