Vines, Blue Skies and Mountain Splendor

3 Comments April 27, 2015 This is Life in Color

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.

: Trucha de Tupungato

: Chorizo parrillero de Luján de Cuyo

: Ravioles pequeños de chivo

: Ojo de Bije grillado

: 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.

Video: El Subte

Video Leave a comment April 15, 2015 This is Life in Color

When the option is available, we try to maximize our experience by joining the locals in using public transportation. One of the first things to do when we arrive to any large city like Buenos Aires, is head down to the Subway Station and buy our Weekly or Multi-Ride Pass. Riding the subway, or Subte as it is called in Buenos Aires, is always one of the highlights.

Hope you enjoy the experience of entering the Subte in Buenos Aires.

40 Ride Pass

Pura Vida en Costa Rica

1 Comment April 13, 2015 This is Life in Color

We now understand why people love visiting this country so much. Over and over we have heard about the great Costa Rican escape and now, having experienced it, we can say that it truly is Pura Vida which translates to “Pure Life”. Naturally, this saying has 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.

Whether it’s the coffee, adventure, relaxation or wildlife, Costa Rica has it! On top of that, your surroundings look like a Jurassic Park movie for crying out loud. And it wasn’t until this trip, that we saw volcanoes that actually looked like volcanoes. This is one of the many reasons Costa 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.

Transportation alone is a big deal in Costa Rica and the infrastructure is not what you might be accustomed to. Well, not unless you’re used to riding along the edge of cliffs on unpaved roads for hours and that sort of thing. The anxiety can be overwhelming for some of us. As a result, we were proactive to wear a dramamine patch (for motion sickness) every three days and made sure we were always in good hands. Of course, there was absolutely nothing we could do about the internal flight from San Jose to Liberia (Guanacaste region) on a 10 passenger plane that did not feel safe whatsoever. So, when we were not in tiny planes, we felt very safe throughout the country.

Tip: Although some spots in Costa Rica have become dependent on tourism and English is commonly spoken, learning a bit of Spanish before you visit may prove to be helpful.

During our three week stay in Costa Rica, we spent the first half on an adventurous tour (2 for 1 on Groupon-Monkey Tours) and the other half relaxing in the sun. Besides the first two days in the capital of San Jose, all of our time was spent in the beautiful region of Guanacaste.

We were even spoiled on the relaxation part of this trip and stayed at a gorgeous waterfront resort with my mother-in-law’s associate rate hotel discount (gotta love the perks). Can you believe this was cheaper than airbnb? Well, it was and it was paradise!

Trip Highlights: La Fortuna, Arenal Volcano, Rincón de la Vieja, Hot Springs with Thermal Waters, Coffee and Sugar Cane Plantation, Whitewater Rafting, Zip-Lining, Horseback Riding, Nicaragua, Samara Beach, Tamarindo Beach, Wildlife (I am not too “wild” about this one, but the Monkeys and Toucans were beautiful) and not one mosquito bite! Granted it wasn’t rainy season, but our repellent is pretty good too.

El Casado: Traditional Costa Rican Dish: Rice, Beans, Plantains, Salad, and your choice of chicken, beef, pork, or fish.

We had a fantastic time in Costa Rica and plan to visit again very soon as there is still so much to see and do. Until then, Pura Vida!

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The Land of Lakes and Volcanoes

Leave a comment April 13, 2015 This is Life in Color

Lake Nicaragua (Largest in Central America)

An intense border crossing, bright custom-made maracas, active volcanoes, and a relaxing evening in San Juan del Sur. Yes, the Republic of Nicaragua did nothing but impress. A very enjoyable two day getaway that kept us on our toes. With it’s beautiful scenery and even more inexpensive than Costa Rica, Nicaragua is starting to attract many tourists. After a four hour bus ride from our hotel, we finally arrived at the border. And this was only obvious because our tour guide made it known to us. This place did not look anything like the borders back at home in San Diego. The only thing separating the two countries was a regular 10-foot high chain link fence with a door that had to be opened manually for our bus to pass through. However, don’t let that fool you. Beyond this line, we were introduced to beautiful beaches, distinct wildlife, and volcanoes that take your breath away.

One of our favorite destinations in Nicaragua was the active volcano in Masaya. We were only allowed five minutes in the area due to the possibility of a major ash or lava eruption. For crazy people like us, this actually made it a lot more exciting. Being so close to the crate allows for great photos even though, the sulfur in the air made it difficult to breath. Right after the impressive volcano visit, we headed over to the vibrant colonial city of Granada where we stayed for the night. We were all surprised at the beautiful and unexpected sites such as the cathedral, cobble stone streets, authentic restaurants and traditional local music that complemented the extraordinary time we spent in the city.

A scenic boat ride of the small islands in Nicaragua, called Las Isletas was another great experience. Here, we saw private rustic vacation houses and a few people from the local fishing community. We also spotted many different birds and had an opportunity to feed the monkeys by getting up close and personal.

Before heading back to Costa Rica, we enjoyed a nice lunch al fresco and at one of Nicaragua’s finest beaches, San Juan del Sur. The view was incredible and there was no one else on the beach, or at least that’s what it seemed. It felt like we had it all to ourselves. It was the perfect ending to our trip in Nicaragua. We only wish this stop could have been a full day, rather than a few hours.