A bustling city of wide, leafy avenues, atmospheric plazas and cosmopolitan cafes, Mendoza is wonderful.  I’ve arrived after a long journey and am captivated by the laid-back pace this was the perfect destination to learn Spanish. Yes, that’s right, I’ve signed up to a 1 week intensive Spanish school. I want to engage with locals and have more confidence communicating on my travels throughout the rest of South America.

I am living with a local family, my host parents are Maria and Bernardo are lovely but do not speak a word of english, so my Spanish is being tested by day and night.  Their children are adorable, Morena, 3 has georgeous tight curls and Camilo, 2, has the cutest mullet I have ever seen.  I have read them bedtime stories each evening which has been perfect as my language ability is on par with the two children.

I thoroughly recommend Ecela Spanish School, they have been amazing and I feel like I have progressed nicely.  It has been challenging, full days at school, followed by homework and attempting to communicate each evening with the family has been exhausting but full immersion has done wonders and I’m looking forward to getting on with my travels.

Mendoza, in Argentina’s Cuyo region, is the capital of Mendoza Province and the heart of Argentina’s wine country, famed for Malbecs and other bold reds.

Mendoza makes 70% of the countries wine so it was only right that I take a winery tour while here. The region boasts hundreds of wineries and the tour made several stops which I took full advantage of.