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- Find a Spanish school in South America - CatchtheLingo
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- Mendoza and Cuyo - Western Argentina
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Mendoza
Mendoza, stranded in the harsh and barren landscape at the foot of the Andes, sparkles like an emerald in the dirt.
Images of Mendoza
Expect: Lots and lots of wine, drunken cycling, adrenaline packed excursions and lush green plazas. Pack: Sturdy shoes, a helmet, a spare liver and a taste for cycling drunk with a police escort. Mendoza Stranded in the harsh and barren landscape at the foot of the Andes, the city of Mendoza sparkles like an emerald in the dirt. On a clear day this dominating mountain range can be seen painted onto the horizon. As you sip your ever-replenished glass of Malbec, in one of the many leafy plazas, it can be difficult to believe that those distant shapes are anything more than just the flick of a painter’s wrist. With its own unique sleepy style, Mendoza feels a million miles from the adrenalin packed adventures the neighbouring peaks have to offer. Many people rave about Mendoza, and if you are looking to do some serious climbing or adventure travel there is probably no better place in Argentina. Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western hemisphere (6,962m), is only a few hours drive away and home to some of the most visually dramatic and endurance testing (if not the most challenging) climbs in the Andes. The quality and range of excursions such as rafting, absailing, paragliding, mountaineering and horse riding is impressive. However, for some Mendoza is slightly too on the touristy side of things. Warning: If you’re looking for the kind of trekking where you just find a local guide and wander into the wilderness then you should go and speak to somebody in the tourist office as this does need planning. The definite highlight of any visit to Mendoza is the bicycle wine tour in Maipu. It might be touristy, but some things are touristy because they're bloody good, and this is one of them. It is a hell of a lot of fun. The Urquiza road is lined with a mouth-watering array of wineries and local producers of olive oil, chocolates and liquors. All offer tours and tasting and you can spend a madly tasty day cycling around, getting increasingly drunk on delicious wine and handmade absinthe, all the while tailed by local police who ensure you make it back in one piece.
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