Mendoza: Trees and Parks

Mendoza is a city of about 120,000, with another million and a half population in the suburbs and surrounding area.  It's located in a high desert area in the foothills on the eastern side of the Andes.

Front Range of the Andes

  The primary industries are wine-making and olive oil production.  The region around Mendoza is the largest wine producing area in LatinAmerica, with over 2,000 vineyards in the vicinity.  The region is best known for its Malbec  wines, but a number of other varietals are also produced. A mutitude of shops line the streets selling wine, olive oil and walnuts.
The agriculture production is possible because of a very extensive irrigation system, collecting and storing water as it runs down from the snow melt of the Andes.  The system was first developed by the indigenous Huarpas and later used and expanded by the Incas and the Spanish, who brought the first grapes to the region.  City streets are lined with over 100,000 trees, watered by wide trenches which run down the sides of the streets.

Site of the Annual Wine Festival, A Week-Long Event Taking Place Every March

   

                                             Sycamore Trees Lining the Streets

City Worker With A Natural Broom

Jose San Martin, one of Argentina's major heroes (honored by streets, statues and parks all over Argentina) was governor of Mendoza's province before setting out across the Andes with an army of other Argentinian and Chilean patriots in 1818, eventually winning freedom for Chile and Peru from Spain. Very few  Colonial Era buildings remain; a massive earthquake in 1861 wiped out most of the older sections of the city. The city is a center for rafting, hiking and climbing, with Acongagua, the highest peak in South America, the destination of many climbers. 

                                           San Martin Statue in San Martin Plaza

        Entrance Gates into San Martin Park, a Very Large Park with a Stadium,       
                                         Swimming Pool, Golf Course and University

Women Outside the Jesuit Church on San Martin Avenue

   

                                                  Interior of the Jesuit Church

Flower Kiosk Along Avenida de San Martin

A Private Residence

The Plaza Independencia, a large park space, is located in the center of the city.  Four other smaller plazas are equidistant from the four corners of the main plaza.  Independencia was full of families enjoying a lovely fall Sunday.  Booths were set up selling everything from jewelry and clothing to cotten candy and toys.

Entertainment in the Park

                                                     Evening Lights in the Park

The Plaza Espana, One of the Four Smaller Plazas, With Beautiful Tiles