Jan 28, 2026
After Córdoba, Mendoza was supposed to be a simple stop. Two days in a transit city, then three full days before hitting the road again. Nothing more. We arrive with this idea in mind, not realizing that Mendoza would mainly change the way we spend our time.
Here, the journey is not played out in the movements, but in what happens between the moments. The meetings, the impromptu discussions, the plans that arise around a table and come to fruition almost despite ourselves. Mendoza does not impose a different rhythm; it offers another backdrop to experience the journey.
Marked by earthquakes, rebuilt methodically, irrigated by ancient canals that make the city surprisingly green despite the drought, Mendoza has been built around the land and what it produces. Wine is everywhere, of course, but it mainly serves as a social link, a meeting point among passing travelers.
Three days, no more
Three full days. It’s short. Too short to settle in, but enough to leave a mark. The inn becomes more of a crossroads than a refuge. The bags remain open, the shoes rarely put away. We arrive with a vague idea of what we would like to do, and very quickly, that idea transforms.
We adapt. We improvise. And above all, we share.
ARGENTINA
Buenos
Aires
Mendoza
A city that disappears on Sunday
Mendoza on Sundays is a different story. The city almost completely empties. The streets are silent, businesses closed, as if everyone had decided to press pause at the same time. It’s not a shock, rather a curiosity. We stroll through a city that seems to belong to us, not really knowing what to do with it.
During the week, the city regains its movement, but retains this peculiarity: everything operates on time slots. After lunch, everything temporarily shuts down. An organization that surprises at first, then becomes a familiar backdrop of the journey.
When the journey repeats
At the welcome, two familiar faces. Already crossed paths in Salta. Same itinerary, same direction, just a few days apart. Travel sometimes has this sense of irony: it makes you believe that everything is new, then it reminds you that certain stories continue.
Jesse, an open and warm American. Carmen, a constant energy, difficult to channel. The reunion happens informally. We pick up the conversation where it left off, as if Córdoba had only been a comma.
Wine as an Excuse
In Mendoza, talking about wine is inevitable. But very quickly, one understands that it is only an excuse. A way to spend a day together, to get out of the city, to share something simple.
The meeting is set in the main square. A van, a few strangers, then an unexpected stop.
In front of our inn.
All four of us leave. The day is filled with tastings and discussions. Some products are surprising, others leave more indifferent. It doesn’t matter. What remains are the exchanges, the laughter, this feeling of having experienced the day as a group, not as lined-up tourists.
End of the day without a decision
Back at the inn, the question of dinner is no longer really a concern. We go with the flow. A communal meal, conversations that last, plates that fill up too often. The kind of evening that is not marked by a specific event, but by the feeling of being exactly where you are supposed to be.
Mendoza, a pivotal stop for a bit of rest
The next day, the thermal baths await us. A little moment of pleasure, with a bit of rafting to add some excitement.
The van takes us in front of the thermal baths and tells us to come back at 3 PM for rafting, so we find ourselves lost in this open-air spa. The locals have already invaded the area, taken their spots, and laid out their towels. But the most impressive part remains, and will remain, the setup of Asado by the waterways. Dozens of barbecues, ready to be used, the Asadors (BBQ chefs) are in place and start cooking. Relaxation and BBQ, a day that resembles them.
We swim and enjoy with our little sandwiches, the water is warm and pleasant under the sun.
Rafting Directions
After 15 hours, we take the van back towards rafting! A group experience with the thermal baths, which works well for us, we get equipped and into the water! These are rapids that are accessible, and the group of Argentinians is funny, a real moment of pleasure for 1 hour and 30 minutes in the water alongside the old railway paths that connected Argentina to Chile and which no longer operate now.
After this moment, we are picked up and the van starts to take us to the hostel. The hostel? We forgot our things at the thermal baths, in a locker, thinking we would be back!!! We talk with the driver, and he tells us that we will try to make a detour, but he can't guarantee we will arrive before closing time. For 30 minutes, we stress. Then, we arrive and Tristan runs to get our things, to the applause of the people on the bus. He did it, we can go back and have our pizza night at the hostel peacefully, a calm end to the day.
Mendoza was not a love at first sight. And perhaps that is why it works so well in travel. It does not dazzle, it connects. It links Córdoba to the continuation of the journey, Salta to the upcoming stages.
Three full days. Not enough to see everything. Enough to understand that travel is not just a succession of places, but a continuity of stories that intersect and respond to each other.
