Mendoza is the ultimate escape from the noisy and busy city life in Buenos Aires. This picturesque and leafy city is only a two hour flight from Buenos Aires and is home to Argentina’s wine country and the incomparable Malbec. 
In addition to more than 1000 wineries and haute cuisine, visitors arrive year round to join in on the many adventures that the Mendoza area has to offer. Overlooking an incredible view of the Andes mountains, this province is an Argentinian gem in our opinion.
The purpose of our visit was the wine of course, and we felt guilty cheating on our California Cabernet Sauvignon. We were simply enjoying the Malbec that much! Originally from France, we learned that there is a distinctly different personality in the Malbec from Argentina. As a result, Argentina is now home to more than 70% of the Malbec vineyards in the world and is recently becoming popular throughout. 
This is precisely what we love about tasting.
In Tuscany, for example, we had a wonderful time tasting Chianti (Sangiovese grape) and learned so much about the uniquely intricate process. In California, the focus is on the highly acclaimed Cabernets. Such is the particular process of the Malbec grape in Argentina. Each region, no matter where in the world, translates to a completely different experience and offers exclusive wine to appreciate.
There are three main wine regions in the Mendoza province: Luján de Cuyo, Valle de Uco and Maipu. We visited the following:
Luján de Cuyo
Bodega Luigi Bosca: Luigi Bosca is commonly recommended in Buenos Aires and offers a fantastic tour and tasting. I am not a big fan of the sparkling wine (espumantes), but this place has a delicious variety to choose from.
Bodega Norton: Malbec single vineyard tasting and tour. A taste is provided throughout the different stages of the fermentation process and you have an opportunity to visit the beautiful, and rustic underground wine cellars. As if wine weren’t enough, the cuisine is definitely something to brag about in the Mendoza province too. Here’s a peek at what we had for lunch at Norton. Highly recommended.
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- Trucha de Tupungato
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- Chorizo parrillero de Luján de Cuyo
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- Ravioles pequeños de chivo
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- Ojo de Bije grillado
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- Cheesecake de dulce de leche
Bodega Carmelo Patti: Spent some quality time with the man himself and absolutely loved him. He works hard everyday and is passionate about his wine. His wine is also distributed in the US (well, when he is ready to release it). Make sure to try the 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, it is fantastic and available on Amazon…just saying! 
Valle de Uco (wine tour)
Bodega Domaine Bousquet
Bodega Corazon del Sol
Bodega O.Fournier
The bodegas we visited in this region were all equally fantastic! Not only did we enjoy incredible (Malbec) wine, but the view was breathtaking throughout the entire day. Nothing but vines, blue skies and mountain splendor (refer to featured image above). Our favorite region during this trip!
Although we were only in Mendoza for three days, we were fortunate to spend three weeks in Argentina developing a genuine appreciation for the bold and purple Malbec wine. So, next time you are in doubt, go with a Malbec from Argentina. You will be glad you did. Cheers! 
Check out the video below and don’t forget to visit the gallery (click here) to see more pictures.
a much deeper cultural meaning for locals. Essentially, life is too short, so live it with what you’ve been given no matter how little or how much and do so together in Pura Vida style! The people we met in both San Jose and Guanacaste were a true representation of this mantra with their friendly approach and adventurous heart. As if small talk were not enough, Enoc was able to connect with locals on a different level sharing similar Costa Rican passions: coffee and soccer.
Rica has become a popular destination for travelers, honeymooners and retirees all over the world. Although your dollar will mean more colón (local currency), this destination can become quite pricey and in fact, too expensive if you are looking to explore and take on the many adventures and activities available.
Today, we can say that it was truly an honor to have been a mere fraction of what this team and organization have accomplished.
After a much needed peanut butter breakfast every morning, the team would partner with our MOH leader, Haitian village champion and Haitian translators to begin our day in the village. The village kids recognized the bus and ran up to us every time we arrived. Playing with these beautiful kids was the best and we loved every second, but this was only the mere surface of what we experienced. Our experience was much greater than that.
During this trip, we had the opportunity to provide hygiene packs to families throughout the village and educate them on how to wash their hands, brush their teeth and ask about their current health concerns/needs to better serve their families and the community. After spending some quality time with each family, we would talk about the unconditional love of Jesus, shown for all of us alike, and prayed for their specific requests. Although many Haitians practice Voodoo alongside Christianity, they were open to prayer and conversation never seemed to be a problem. It sounds so simple, but these interactions were truly special and meant more to us than it probably did to them.
ooking back, I was quite emotional on this trip and it wasn’t because I was sad. Truthfully, it was because I felt such joy in my heart to be a part of something so significant. It was overwhelming to see kids playing with no shoes, on rocks nonetheless, and still full of laughter and life. Women who walk for more than one hour to get water from a pump 
while still living a life with a smile on their face and believing God will provide. The kindness and resilience that these people possess is uplifting and is a true representation of what we believe: The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Like most foreigners who visit the Dominican Republic, we thought it would be fun to stay in the most touristic (and most commercial) part of the island, Punta Cana. With tourism being the number one industry in this country, locals are excited to see visitors and they go out of their way to ensure you are having a great time. One thing that surprised us was how happy and engaged Dominicans became when they heard us speak Spanish. They immediately wanted to know more about us and this gave us an opportunity to ask them questions about the country and the people. In fact, speaking and understanding Spanish has not only been helpful, but a necessity on our journey thus far. Most visitors can get away with English at nearly every tourist site, but when you are venturing off to explore local life, it helps if you speak the local language. Dominican Spanish is generally spoken very fast and even though we asked locals to repeat at times, it was a good feeling to communicate accordingly. They appreciate it too! 
Punta Cana is stunning! Upon arrival, we were fortunate to stay at an all-inclusive resort for a few days thanks to Groupon (Enoc is always impressed with the deals I find). Although a stay at any of the resorts will be nothing short of fantastic, you can’t expect to see what the country and people are all about when you are sunbathing and drinking piña coladas all day. Now, there is certainly nothing wrong with crystal clear waters, unlimited fresh fruit smoothies, an open bar and delectable meals, if you’re into that sort of thing (pun intended). However, to truly experience the vibrant history surrounding you, we highly recommend visiting other parts of the country and perhaps doing it in local style by taking a motoconcho. 
A scenic drive around the tropical and luxuriant island was the perfect way to see the many beautiful sites in St. Kitts. We partnered with a local taxi driver, Austin Powers as he preferred to be called, and a few others from the cruise. The streets were a bit crowded because we happened to be there during election week, but once we were out of the downtown area, it was a smooth ride. We made a few stops throughout the day and enjoyed the tropical paradise that surrounded us. Our favorite stops were the botanical garden with the 400-year-old Saman Tree
and the highest peak on the island with a stunning view of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea (featured above). Although we didn’t visit, we hear Nevis (neighbor Caribbean island) is a must-see when visiting St. Kitts. Who knew this island had so much to offer?
Primarily known for the birthplace of Rihanna (among us millennials), property ownership by many celebrities, sugar cane, wildlife preserves, and swimming with the turtles, Barbados was by far our favorite stop on this cruise. This island has it all! We took a 5-hour scenic drive around the entire island and stopped in each parish to indulge in the history, culture and beauty that this nation has to offer. Bridgetown is the capital and largest city in Barbados. One doesn’t need to travel far from the capital to enjoy a great vacation. The people and history of the island is what make this destination a favorite for many. 
The sugar plantations and beaches (Carlisle Beach to be exact) were among my favorites. As for Enoc, after tasting the local beer from each island, he claims that ‘Banks’ beer from Barbados was the best during the cruise.
The ferry ticket cost is $2.25 each way and you must choose your return option at the same time of purchase. The ferry from Fajardo to Culebra Island takes approx. 1-1.5 hours. It can be a choppy ride, depending on the weather conditions. Upon arrival, taxis are on port and for as low as $3 per person they will take you directly to Flamenco beach.
This is Life in Color 