Renowned as a base for some unparalleled hiking opportunities in the Andes Mountains and for the vineyards surrounding it that produce, among other wines, the full-bodied Malbec, the city of Mendoza in western Argentina shouldn’t be overlooked as a destination in and of itself — and I’m glad I devoted some time to staying in town. In many ways, such as its abundance of sidewalk trees, it’s like no other city in Argentina. One of its delightful highlights are the five plazas in the heart of Mendoza — an X-shaped arrangement of green oases in a city that’s already fairly leafy. Each one of this quintet of plazas honors a key player, whether it’s a person or a country, in the nation’s history, and each is chock full of attractions that impressed me with its beauty and thoughtfulness. Read more >