WELCOME TO MENDOZA from The Westernmost town in Argentina, is at the foothills of the Andes. It has 150000 inhabitants which the metropolitan it comes to 1 million people, ranking 4th biggest city of the country. The border to Chile - the Andes . The town is centered around Plaza de Independencia with 4 main squares (San Martín, Chile, Italia, and España) placed at the four cardinal points. In case of emergency (earthquakes), people will gather at those squares. In 1861, 5000 people died because a severe earthquake After that, it had been decided to change the city structure. You cannot get lost as everything is concentrated around Colon, San Martin and 9th July street. However you have in the same town sometimes a street name that is repeated two or three times! Mendoza faces a lack of water supply and its supply depends on the snow , therefore they have a unique water supply system that are ditches in every single streets. You can ask why having trees in a city that does not have water resources and an arid climate. Upon the time, some people thought that the town would be nicer with trees and imported trees in Mendoza! Mendoza could be named after San Martin - as you have a square, a street, an avenue and so on... Who is San Martin? He was the governor of the region founded in 183. He fought against the Spaniards with Chilean and went up to Peru. He organized a military attack from Mendoza to Santiago through the Andes. It was a huge military strategy as San Martin dispatched his forced on 5 points of entry, his goal was to attack the city of Santiago at the same time. He succeeded! Before the Spaniards colonised Mendoza in 1561, tribes lived there: the Huarpes and Puelches. Just note that Colon arrived in 1492 in the Caribbean. Mendoza differs from any other cities in Argentina as people have a break from 1 to 5. The city goes to sleep for 4 hours only restaurants and supermarkets are open. I joined a free walking tour and I really enjoyed it. I learned so much about the history. PLAZOLETA CARLOS PELLIGRINI Plaza de Espana It has a Spanish touch with the tiles and the main symbol: two women. A history behind - see the front panels. PLAZA DE INDEPENDENCIA 9 July 1816 In Argentina, the declaration of Independence was written in Spanish and Quechua. This is where demonstrators gather when protesting. That day teachers were about to protest again low salary (400 - 500 Euros). The inflation rate within the last two years: 40 % and 30%. And it was also a week before the government´s vote on abortion. People against will wear a blue clothes and people for will wear a green clothes. A Muslim monument In response to the Jew who placed a religious monuments opposite the square! Around San Martin square The culture centre that organised in May - a retrospective on the events that occurred in France in 1968 - students and workers demonstrations known in Argentina as El Mayo Frances. In Mendoza you had a protestations movements but it started from the workers not the students. On Thursdays, since 1979 at midday mothers who lost a son or whose son disappeared during the dictatorship- it could be anyone who disappeared. Mothers demonstrated with a white headscarf. At the beginning, they drew petitions and claimed for justice but files were stolen... History knows but people don´t Independencia B&W FOOD Argentine are not only famous for meat but pizza. On my day of arrival, I wanted to eat a local place, a local meal. When suddenly the host told me that they are making pizza! hmm,,, Pizza in Argentina., well I´ll skip that one. However after meeting a French girl who has been living in Argentina for 6 years and she recommended me the Argentine pizzas. So, I changed my mind. It was delicious, I have to admit that the dough was as good as in Italy or even better... For Lunch the second day after 2 hours walking tour, I went to the main market, where everything was closed but the restaurants. I had chicken a la Milanesa. To bring back home - dolce de leche, mate and Malbec. One of the industry in Mendoza is wine. At the market and getting ready for the World cup! Nice and colourful houses In Mendoza houses and buildings are not higher than a 4 storey house. Precautions taken in case of a severe earthquakes.
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