Mendoza

The following stop for the St. Mary´s DSG multidisciplinary sports tour to Argentina 2005 was the city of Mendoza, in the "Cuyo" region of Argentina and next to the Andes range of mountains that separate Argentina from Chile.

After and early departure from the city of Cordoba, the coach passed through Carlos Paz where they were joined by TCEF staff and by members of the basketball team that had been playing matches in Cosquin,  the touring group left the province of Cordoba, passed by San Luis and arrived after sunset in the city of Mendoza.

The first ones to get off the bus were the girls from the bascketball team, who immediatly met their host families and departed to their respective home for a good rest. Then, at the Quinta & Suites Hotel, the host families of the squash players were waiting for the girls to take them home. The rest of the group stayed at the hotel where the Barraco family made everyone feel comfortable, as they always do.

The following morning was the opportunity to drive around the city during the city tour. Some of the points visited during the morning were the "Cerro de la Gloria", the park surrounding the National University of Cuyo, the artificial lake and rose garden, main avenues and neighbourhoods, historical buildings, central plaza and the down town area of the city. We then stopped in the the pedestrian area which was the place selected to stop for lunch and enjoy the relaxing atmosphere of the city at "siesta" time. The city tour ended at one of the local shopping malls, a very expected stop for the girls to get into some well earned shopping.

Later on that afternoon, everyone met again at one of the basketball stadiums where a couple of matches were played between St. Mary´s DSG and the local team. After the matches both teams got together to enjoy some pizzas and cold drinks while the usual exchange of presents and greetings took place. Then, our South African visitors went back home to get ready for a night out activity!

The next day was reserved for a visit to the mountains and to the base of the Aconcagua peak - the highest in the Americas and fifth in the world. After a 3 hours drive from Mendoza city through the Valley of Uspallata and Penitentes the group arrived to "Puente del Inca" (Bridge of the Inca) where they visited the caves, spring waters and the chapel at 4200 metres above sea level. The next stop was at the base of the Aconcagua and the final border post point before the border with Chile. It was, finally, time to go back to the city for our last night in Mendoza before flying to Buenos Aires the following morning.