A Puente del Inca he dedicated part of his story. Advances in transportation, produced throughout the nineteenth century, improved communication and, in turn, favored tourism, which began as a practice among the more affluent sectors of society. Although it is considered as the home field for female excellence, many women dare to go out, travel and explore distant lands and thereby break the imposed models. Our province has been accessed through the years by many men but also some women who came to this part of the world and then wrote about it. The names of Charles Darwin and Hermann Burmeister, for example, are familiar like their texts on their way through Mendoza; however, books and personal stories of Annie Peck or May Crommelin, are virtually unknown to most of us. However, both one and the other part of our regional history; their stories help us today to learn about other facets of our past, like the old modes of travel. A feminist climber Annie Peck was certainly a woman ahead of her time. Precursor of female, traveling and climbing writer, academic and sportsman, was also an active advocate for the rights of women. Born in the United States, in the city of Providence, in 1850 in the midst of a distinguished family that gave him a privileged upbringing. He studied at the University of Michigan and then became the first woman to be admitted to the American School of Classical Studies at Athens. It was probably in Greece where he began climbing, an activity that became a passion of his life. Thereafter, he devoted himself to travel and visit places where there were peaks to conquer. His ascent of the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps in 1895 gave great celebrity; It was the third woman to reach that peak and the first to wear pants, men’s clothing exclusively then. In 1908, at age 58, he reached the summit of Nevado Huascaran, over 6,500 feet high in the Peruvian Andes, and set the record for female ascent in the Western Hemisphere. “In my teens I decided that it would make everything a woman could to show that women have as much brains as men and can do things as well as they can,” he wrote. She was active in the suffrage and 61, when another Peruvian rose hill Coropuna, stuck on its top a banner with the inscription: “Vote for Women”. Tourism in the early twentieth century In 1913 Annie Peck published in New York’s South American tour. It was a guidebook clear and simple style, illustrated with photographs that he had taken the same traveler, whose aim was to encourage Americans to travel to this part of the continent. To encourage them, claimed that the shipping lines, connecting the United States with the various parts of South America, were guaranteed comfort and railways in some countries visited were also well equipped. As for hotels, noted that, in general, were good, gave great meals and had comfortable beds. As for the time to be invested in the South American tour, felt that “in four months or a little more, you can visit the most important places and have a clear idea of the different countries.” Regarding luggage, counseled carry as little as possible because in excess railways was very expensive, but not in boats. In terms of clothing, advised to bring warm clothing and fur coats and even shawls and blankets, especially if one traveled in winter, like dresses and evening gowns, because everywhere the label was stricter than in the United States. A final recommendation for future tourists had to do with money. For the author was conveniently handled checks but also suggested bringing a moderate sum of gold coins. The trip to Mendoza When Annie Peck arrived in Mendoza in 1912 was over sixty years, but retained his youthful spirit. “Much is lost traveling by train! Inconveniences are avoided, but also a glorious and exciting experience,” he wrote. Words unusual among women in the early twentieth century. “The first to reach the supposed highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, the summit of Aconcagua (), was Matthias Zurbriggen” noted Peck in his book and wrote “alleged” because at that time there was still no unanimity on the matter. This eminent mountaineer, stated that although he could not climb the Aconcagua first or Tupungato, there were other hills where you could make the first ascents. The Baths of Puente del Inca and Cacheuta earned him some comments like the Christ the Redeemer brand a few years ago was located in the Cordillera, “Here, amid this great solitude, is the most impressive monument, according say, the world, Christ of the Andes, a Christ figure of heroic size bronze “. The American arrived in Mendoza at sunset and settled in the Grand Hotel, located opposite the Plaza San Martin. Recommended that accommodation because there enjoyed an excellent dinner and a comfortable room. Suggested to stay one or two days to tour the city and visit a winery, before proceeding to Buenos Aires. A walk through the city “The new city of Mendoza has recently experienced rapid growth and great prosperity,” he wrote. Among the spaces, emphasizing the San Martín, which is also the Grand Hotel, the elegant Provincial Bank was. Independence also mentioned, around which important public buildings, some completed and others were still under construction and pointed out that, according to the tastes and interests of each tourist, you could also visit churches and convents, libraries, the National College and even kindergarten edge that had the city. For Annie Peck, Mendoza was a nice place with wide tree-lined streets and attractive buildings. He was struck by the San Martin Avenue where, in addition to sightseeing and shopping, observed a curious way of watering the streets I had not seen anywhere else: “A funny and original method of flushing the streets you can see here Arroyos. of considerable size are at the sides of the main avenue (), children with buckets held at the end of long canes collect water in them and then throw the contents over the sidewalks, a primitive but effective. “It was indeed a very common scene in Mendoza early twentieth century but attracted the attention of tourists who visited us at that time. Like the vast majority of travelers and travelers who passed through here after 1861, the American wrote about the earthquake and said: “Everything looks new There are two cities, the living and the dead.”. A must for those who came to Mendoza by the time the appointment was General San Martin Park, then known as Park West. Peck said in his book: “In the west of the city is a huge park that is being transformed into a charming recreation center at the foot of the Andes are splendid roads lit by electricity, beautiful flower beds, a nice botanical garden, thousand. trees and shrubs, an interesting zoological garden, and a lovely lake (…) where you can rent boats. embellish There are islands and an amphitheater., this impressive place, that no one should miss, promises to become a space of amenities at magnificent truth. I do not think there is one comparable in America, even in cities twice the size of Mendoza. “Visit a winery The wine was already emerging in those years as the most important and representative activity in the province. The traveling dedicated a few words to this phenomenon and described an inter. “The greatest of all is the winery Domingo Tomba, whose wines have won gold and silver medals in European exhibitions property is located in Godoy Cruz, a nice village, at half hour train or car from Mendoza, and can be crossed in half a day. Interestingly visit at any time of year, but especially during the harvest from February to May. “And for wine added: “It’s great, good body, but is not prepared for export and that does not improve with aging to the table every day there is no better wine.”. Annie Peck left Mendoza and continued his journey, but retained fond memories of our landscapes, streets, squares, promenades and customs that were recorded in the pages of his book. (*) Degree in History, Member of CEIDER (Interdisciplinary Centre for Regional Studies) and ICES (Interdisciplinary Center for Women’s Studies), Faculty of Arts, National University of Cuyo Source: Diario Los Andes
