Hi there - I havent been on-line lately. I have been busy at work, doing some travelling and my Picasa 3 is on the blink (so I am having trouble with my photo files). Regardless....
On the drive back to Mendoza we stopped at Aconcagua Provincial Park, where the highest peak outside of Asia is located.
We had the luxury of a local (our Environment Manager) taking us on this day tour. His wife and son joined us. I am sure they had other things to do but they were most gracious in their hospitality.
Mimi & I recently travelled to Mendoza, which is the centre of the Argentine wine universe and for good reason. I was there for business meetings with our Environment team. While we were there, we did some touring around. You know - check out the environment!
We only visited 3 bodegas (wineries), enjoyed some very nice restaurants and took a trip to the border with Chile. The tours were interesting not only for the bodega 'stories' and wine sampling but because we were on english-speaking tours. It was fun to share stories with folks on a seniors' tour from Florida, we talked Blackberry addictions with a guy from RIM in Waterloo and ran into the same couple from Chicago 5 times on the weekend.
Mendoza itself is a cool city. It has a population larger than Calgary and is located in the middle of a desert. It survives only because of the extensive irrigation system that the city has. The runoff from the snowpack melt in the Andes is the source of their water. On EVERY street between the sidewalk and the street is a canal (or ditch) that accepts water on a regular schedule. 
Every tree in the city (and there are a lot of them) was planted and is irrigated by this system. Fields & parks are 'watered' by overflowing the ditches and the water seeps across the field....so you have to choose the right time to have a picnic!
Every tree in the city (and there are a lot of them) was planted and is irrigated by this system. Fields & parks are 'watered' by overflowing the ditches and the water seeps across the field....so you have to choose the right time to have a picnic!We went to an interesting restaurant in the basement of the former residence of the Governor of the Province of Mendoza called Cava de Cano. 
What you see in the photo is the first course of a 4 course meal. I dont think I have seen that much food for 5 people....especially just for the appetizer!
What you see in the photo is the first course of a 4 course meal. I dont think I have seen that much food for 5 people....especially just for the appetizer!From what I am learning, successful vineyards exist where they can control the water the vines get and there is lots of sunshine. It only rains 5 days a year in Mendoza so the climate and the local irrigation expertise make for a robust wine industry. I guess so....there are 1200 wineries in the area. 
We visited three of them. We did sample more than 3 wines though. 
Lots of reasons to return to Mendoza.
We visited three of them. We did sample more than 3 wines though. Lots of reasons to return to Mendoza.We also made a road trip to the Andes. The drive was on a major highway and we found out first hand why there are so many vehicles accidents in Argentina. Overloaded trucks that are underpowered that get passed by crazy bus drivers....yikes. The existence of double yellow lines and the non-existence of shoulders makes for an interesting trip.
Three hours from Mendoza and up a 9 km switchback to an elevation of 4000 metres...
took us to a spot called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemor) de los Andes. It is a large statue built in 1904 acknowledging peace between Chile and Argentina. The statue straddles the border.
That peace got tested when Chile sided with the Brits during the Malvinas/Falklands war.
Three hours from Mendoza and up a 9 km switchback to an elevation of 4000 metres...took us to a spot called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemor) de los Andes. It is a large statue built in 1904 acknowledging peace between Chile and Argentina. The statue straddles the border.That peace got tested when Chile sided with the Brits during the Malvinas/Falklands war. On the day we visited, it was a little breezy. I think it is 'breezy' everyday.
The little guy is Augusto, the son of our Environment Manager, who joined us on the trip.
There is a small restaurant at this spot. It reminded us of the Lake Louise Tea House. They were serving locra - a stew made with goat. It was OK.
There is a small restaurant at this spot. It reminded us of the Lake Louise Tea House. They were serving locra - a stew made with goat. It was OK.On the drive back to Mendoza we stopped at Aconcagua Provincial Park, where the highest peak outside of Asia is located.
We also stopped at an interesting spot where a spa used to operate. It has since shut down and the sulphur laden springs have overun the facility. They closed the bridge because they are afraid it will collapse under its own weight. The brand new church (top right) is no longer accessible as a result.
We had the luxury of a local (our Environment Manager) taking us on this day tour. His wife and son joined us. I am sure they had other things to do but they were most gracious in their hospitality.
We will return soon.
B.
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