B&B in Mendoza Argentina
The wineries have been visited, sightseeing done, now the need is for a quiet, comfortable place to relax, unwind and savor the ambiance of a small town away from the bustle of Mendoza. The place is Chacras de Coria – about 30 minutes south of Mendoza City Center and, within Chacras, the place is Finca Adalgisa.
Chacras, originally the summer retreat for Mendocinos due to its climate, has been “absorbed “ by the expansion of Mendoza, but it still retains all of its charm (e.g., cobblestone streets, colonial small church and plaza, small local restaurants with Argentinian and International cuisines).
Located 4 blocks from Chacra’s central plaza, on Puerreydon Street is Finca Adalgisa. Formerly a private house, the Finca has been expanded and become a bed and breakfast. What sets it apart is not just the physical infrastructure and location; rather it is the quality and friendliness of the staff. They are all extremely service oriented and cater to the guests.
The house has been renovated but kept fairly intact – there is the library, sitting room, several guestrooms in the building, breakfast room – and pictures of the family are scattered throughout. This gives the impression and feeling of being a guest in someone’s house and not at a B&B. Gabriela runs the hotel. It is her house you are staying in! She, along with the rest of the staff, provides the personal family touch.
There is a separate two-story wing, perpendicular to the house, with 8 suites. The suites overlook the swimming pool and provide an unimpeded view of the Finca’s vineyards and the Andes.
The B&B is surrounded by 2 hectares (approximately 5 acres) of Malbec Vineyards. These grapes are used in the Finca to make and bottle their own top-end Malbec.
Guests are encouraged to walk through the vineyards along the trails and see the grapes and olive trees there.
Perhaps, the best part of the day at the Finca is the late afternoon. After spending a day sightseeing and visiting wineries, guests can sit either inside in the lounge, which is located right next to the winery, or outside on the terrace.
There while watching the sun setting over the Andes, guests are treated to a glass of the Finca Adalgisa Malbec – or a white if that is preferred- and a cheese/antipasto plate. This is the wine produced right there at the Finca in the cement vats located just off the lounge.
Sitting inside the lounge, one can’t help but notice the tree in the middle of it going up through the roof. That’s right, the lounge was built around the tree!
The walk to the square, from the Finca is down a tree-lined avenue. The trees are so tall and have spread their branches so that they form a green canopy over the avenue. On Sundays, the square hosts an arts and craft fair showing products made by the local artists. There are also miniature horse rides for children. A pleasant Sunday afternoon can be spentsitting at one of the restaurants on the square, watching the world go by.
The staff can recommend places to eat and will also set up tours for the guests to visit wineries. (They can set up a tour that focuses on the smaller, traditional family-owned wineries in the region – a lot more personal and fun than taking a tour of the “large” well-known wineries!) They also provide concierge service to and from the airport. When in Mendoza, the Finca is worth a visit.
What do Law enforcement-related buildings and luxury hotels have in common?
Building “recycling” Boston Style.
Before recycling, one of the buildings was a jail; the other was the Boston Police Department Headquarters. Not only did they “host” very different types of guests, but also they are on opposite sides of town –one near the river, the other near the old Hancock Tower.
Both are now very high-end luxury hotels – the Old Charles Street Jail is the Liberty Hotel (no pun intended, maybe?) located by the Charles Street T station, the Old Police Headquarters is the Loews Boston Hotel at 360 Stuart Street. The Loews hotel was previously called Jury’s Hotel – but the name was not a play on its former use, it was the name of the family group that bought it (there are several Jury’s Hotels in Ireland but not sure that they are related).
Both buildings have kept many of the features of their former use. The First impression of the Liberty Hotel is the massive granite blocks that comprise the structure of the building. Then, near the main entrance, is a large granite plaque – built into the wall – presenting all the information from when the jail opened in 1851. (By the way, when it opened, it was considered modern and incorporated all the latest theories on what incarceration should be all about.)
Upon entering, the lobby atrium is several stories high (must have been the central core of the old jail?). At different levels there are still what appear to be railings or catwalks from the old cell corridors. The eating and drinking lounges are called “Alibi” and “Clink”.
The Loews hotel has on its façade “Boston Police Department Headquarters”. Entering the building there is the initial feeling of entering – Police Department Headquarters. The entry doors are the original doors.
Once inside two other items are eye-catching. The first one is the plaque on the wall of the stairs leading to the reception desk. This is the original plaque from when the building was dedicated and opened in the 1920’s. (James Michael Curley is the mayor – more on that later.) The second one is the yellow and marble floor with black marble trimming. (Just what one would expect from the HQ of a large city police department.)
Fittingly, the bar here is called “Cuffs”.
Both hotels have had famous (infamous?) “Guests”. The Liberty Hotel “guests” included James Michael Curley –Mayor of Boston who actually won re-election while a guest there! Loews was also used as a holding tank. One of its “guests” was The Boston Strangler.
But, at the same time there is no doubt that both are high-end luxury hotels with the appropriate modern comforts, outstanding quality and courteous service. They have a dignified elegance about them, which is palpable from the minute one enters.
Up to you which side of the law you want to be on, but both places are definitely worth a visit/stay to view them, enjoy some libations and imagine what they must have been like in their previous “lives”. And remember, unlike previous “guests” you get to leave, of your own free will, whenever you are ready to do so.
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