Mendoza Chocolate Festival and the Potrerillos Dam

For our first weekend here in Mendoza, Argentina, we wanted to drive around to see more of the countryside. Alex’s friend Jack is here for two weeks so we wanted to make the most out of it!

Mendoza is surrounded by mountain ranges on one side

Mendoza is surrounded by mountain ranges on one side

On our way to Potrerillos, a town with a dam about on hour away from the city center of Mendoza

On our way to Potrerillos, a town with a dam about on hour away from the city center of Mendoza

Mendoza is 746 meters above sea level, so it's quite chilly

Mendoza is 746 meters above sea level, so it's quite chilly

These were the old mountain peaks, which are more rounded now...

These were the old mountain peaks, which are more rounded now...

These are the ruins of the old dam of the Mendoza River

These are the ruins of the old dam of the Mendoza River

Kansas City boyz enjoying Argentina

Kansas City boyz enjoying Argentina

You can tell it was an old river/ dam by the rounded rocks present

You can tell it was an old river/ dam by the rounded rocks present

Noon time sun behind the mountains

Noon time sun behind the mountains

Surprisingly, there are not a lot of bugs here. Is it because it's winter?

Surprisingly, there are not a lot of bugs here. Is it because it's winter?

Stopped on the side of the road, and saw people bungie jumping from the bridge...

Stopped on the side of the road, and saw people bungie jumping from the bridge...

Ever since Ushuaia, been seeing these tiny whimsical houses on the side of the roads... Can now definitely confirm that they are memorials/ markers for those who had passed on... Accident sites maybe?

Ever since Ushuaia, been seeing these tiny whimsical houses on the side of the roads... Can now definitely confirm that they are memorials/ markers for those who had passed on... Accident sites maybe?

These mountains! So high!

These mountains! So high!

Chanced upon the Mendoza Chocolate Festival... Jack was a happy boy...

Chanced upon the Mendoza Chocolate Festival... Jack was a happy boy...

Care for some Argentine elves?

Care for some Argentine elves?

This lady is passionate about them! Cool stuff...

This lady is passionate about them! Cool stuff...

All about that zen... funky zen.

All about that zen... funky zen.

I was just walking through the festoval grounds and then people told me to get out of the way... Whoops it's a zipline area.

I was just walking through the festoval grounds and then people told me to get out of the way... Whoops it's a zipline area.

Some foodtrucks outside the chocolate tent

Some foodtrucks outside the chocolate tent

Saw these beautiful chocolates in Ushuaia, too!

Saw these beautiful chocolates in Ushuaia, too!

Care for a heart or lips bonbon?

Care for a heart or lips bonbon?

We got chocolates from them, all locally sourced and handmade!

We got chocolates from them, all locally sourced and handmade!

This stall had a lengthy line and people were waiting almost 20 minutes for their sandwich...

This stall had a lengthy line and people were waiting almost 20 minutes for their sandwich...

I just got my Arabian shawarma

I just got my Arabian shawarma

There wasn't a line, but the food was great!

There wasn't a line, but the food was great!

Me and Alex somewhere in the photo

Me and Alex somewhere in the photo

Had a fun coversation with this cute kid Tommy! In our not so great Spanish!

Had a fun coversation with this cute kid Tommy! In our not so great Spanish!

We sent them these photos :)

We sent them these photos :)

Portalets at the back! I could never...

Portalets at the back! I could never...

Mendoza has been great, we want to move here.

Mendoza has been great, we want to move here.

Inside the chocolate tent, there was this poodle that reminds me of Cosmo :(

Inside the chocolate tent, there was this poodle that reminds me of Cosmo :(

CLEAR BLUE SKIES ALL WEEKEND!

CLEAR BLUE SKIES ALL WEEKEND!

We thought this was the dam...

We thought this was the dam...

People hanging out by the river

People hanging out by the river

And just lounging and doing BBQ...

And just lounging and doing BBQ...

ALL THESE ROCKS! Rock.

ALL THESE ROCKS! Rock.

Good thing we pushed through the driving, or else we wouldn't have seen the actual dam!

Good thing we pushed through the driving, or else we wouldn't have seen the actual dam!

The snowy mountains behind are apparently the younger mountains... Hence they are higher, and snowier...

The snowy mountains behind are apparently the younger mountains... Hence they are higher, and snowier...

Alex in his natural habitat

Alex in his natural habitat

WE WANT TO MOVE HERE

WE WANT TO MOVE HERE

WOW! Taken from a moving car...

WOW! Taken from a moving car...

So the water here is from the Mendoza River... And it's from melted snow...

So the water here is from the Mendoza River... And it's from melted snow...

Is that why the color is nicer?

Is that why the color is nicer?

There are pop-up stalls everywhere, and families just gather around...

There are pop-up stalls everywhere, and families just gather around...

El abuelo

El abuelo

I bought a quartz crystal... I want to get more!

I bought a quartz crystal... I want to get more!

How beautiful :)

How beautiful :)

Alex and Jack went there

Alex and Jack went there

You could do kayaking and paragliding here...

You could do kayaking and paragliding here...

Mendoza is so lucky to be here and have these great views

Mendoza is so lucky to be here and have these great views

Argentina is so chill

Argentina is so chill

This is the Potrerillos dam

This is the Potrerillos dam

More...

More...

These people just went over the concrete wall...

These people just went over the concrete wall...

More snow...

More snow...

I stayed back and just took photos of people hanging around.

I stayed back and just took photos of people hanging around.

Do you see the paraglider?

Do you see the paraglider?

What about now?

What about now?

Built between 1998 and 2002, it was created to regulate the flow of the Mendoza River. And provide hydroelectric power to the region.

Built between 1998 and 2002, it was created to regulate the flow of the Mendoza River. And provide hydroelectric power to the region.

Saurday is family day here in Argentina!

Saurday is family day here in Argentina!

This van selling incense.. Very hippie...

This van selling incense.. Very hippie...

I was telling Alex that I was here the whole time, a shade from the sun

I was telling Alex that I was here the whole time, a shade from the sun

Can you see Alex and Jack?

Can you see Alex and Jack?

This bird stopped in front of me...

This bird stopped in front of me...

... and flew away! It looks photoshopped!

... and flew away! It looks photoshopped!

My favorite photo from this day :)

My favorite photo from this day :)

El perro

El perro

Jack was so enamored by the Grinch...

Jack was so enamored by the Grinch...

Checked out the Mercado Central in town before heading home...

Checked out the Mercado Central in town before heading home...

Very European, compared to markets in Colombia, Peru...

Very European, compared to markets in Colombia, Peru...

They love their olives here!

They love their olives here!

Shocked to see a stall selling organs... Isaw....

Shocked to see a stall selling organs... Isaw....

In central...

In central...

Pancho means hotdog in Spanish... Super Pancho!

Pancho means hotdog in Spanish... Super Pancho!

Maggot... Perfumeria.... Cool.

Maggot... Perfumeria.... Cool.

We thought this was for sewage... But no, apparently it's fow water to flow throughout the city...

We thought this was for sewage... But no, apparently it's fow water to flow throughout the city...

And that was our first touristy Saturday here in Mendoza!

We also drove through the Parque San Martin, but there was no available parking. All the families were out doing sports, having picnics, and generally just enjoying the outdoors.

10/10 we are convinced that life is good here in Mendoza.

Next blog post would be about our fun Sunday in vineyards! :)

Chantal

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