Viaspanish’s Weblog

After weaving your way through the rainforest in specially adapted vehicles you reach the river. The water seems calm enough. You carefully step into the semi-rigid rubber boat waiting on the banks, and the group takes off up river. At first you only notice the scenery: the colorful birds, the tropical vegetation, and the occasional long-tailed coati poking its head out from behind a tree, but quickly you start to hear a strange noise, a faint roaring, which grows more intense as the journey progresses. The water starts to churn and flow more chaotically, and a fine mist drizzles down onto your face. With anticipation building, you finally round a bend in the river to find yourself face to face with the “Garganta del Diablo” (Devil’s Throat in Spanish): a 318 ft. high monster waterfall that is the largest of the 275 waterfalls found in the Iguacu National Park.

The Iguacu Falls make Niagara Falls look tiny and maybe even boring; they have a flow capacity three times greater than their North American cousin. The falls are accessible from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides, and visitors can explore the natural parks on elevated metal walkways that go over and right up next to a huge number of the falls. Optional boat trips take you close to the Devil’s Throat or under one of smaller falls for a wet and wild adventure.

The Falls were discovered in 1549 by the Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca; the name comes from the native Guarani Indians. Almost since their discovery, the Iguacu Falls have become one of the most important and beautiful tourist attractions in all of South America, and one that surely cannot be missed in your journey. Taking Spanish classes with one of our ViaSpanish partner schools in South America and then going to Iguacu Falls may just be the adventure you’ve always been looking for!

The Iguacu International Airport makes it easy to reach the falls from our ViaSpanish destinations in Santiago, Chile; Lima, Peru; and Quito, Ecuador. If you decide to take your Spanish classes at our school in Buenos Aires, Argentina, you can take advantage of the frequently organized weekend trips by bus. Departing early on Thursday evenings and returning late Sunday nights, these tours give you plenty of time to explore the majestic falls in depth. In Buenos Aires, friendships form easily during the week in our group Spanish classes, which are offered in six levels according to the education framework provided by the Cervantes Institute, and also during the breaks. Then students celebrate and practice new Spanish skills with their new friends during a long, relaxing weekend at some of the world’s most amazing places, among which Iguacu Falls is definitely a favorite!

Learning Spanish is a fun and rewarding activity, as well as a valuable asset in today’s global job market. More and more people are catching on to the idea of combining the pleasure of a vacation in a beautiful destination with the adventure of custom-tailored Spanish immersion courses on location. Another growing trend is to make this process a family affair: many find that taking Spanish courses with family members can provide an intensive bonding experience and create shared memories that will last a lifetime.

Allison Jones Thompson, from California, chose our ViaSpanish partner school in Flamingo Beach, Costa Rica to take a Spanish course with her daughter, who celebrated her 14^th birthday shortly after returning to the US.  Allison was looking for an opportunity to share time with her daughter and do something together, and says that the end result “could not have been better”. 

The Thompsons chose the homestay housing option, and lived with a local family in a good location.  They often all ate dinner together, and afterwards the mother-daughter team did their homework. They went to the school together in the mornings but took classes in different levels; Allison’s daughter was placed in a more advanced class. Even though they both had learned some Spanish before going to Costa Rica, they were able to significantly augment their knowledge through their classes, social interactions in the home, and interactions with each other.

Allison says that studying with her daughter and getting the chance to spend special time together with her was the best part of the trip. Another highlight was the canopy tour that they both did, which involved zooming on a zipline through the trees in the tropical forest. Both of the Thompsons are scared of heights, so it was a huge exhilaration to overcome this fear together.            

Allison’s daughter says that she would like to go back to Costa Rica or maybe do a year abroad in a Spanish speaking country in the future. Both mother and daughter returned home enthusiastic and energized after sharing a very special time together, and Allison says that she has recommended to all of her friends that they do a study abroad with their children.

Children accompanied by their parents are warmly welcomed in all of our 18 ViaSpanish destinations; check us out at www.viaspanish.com for the latest information about all of our amazing options for your next vacation!  

With a year-round tropical climate, sun and sand to the heart’s content, and the elegant cultural infusion of pre-Columbian heritage with Spanish flair, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, is known as one of the most beautiful vacation spots in the world. Visitors can eat grilled seafood on the beach or dance the night away in one of the many salsa clubs, and our Spanish school is located right in the heart of the action. Downtown and only two blocks from the Pacific Ocean, the “Vallarta” style building welcomes students from around the world and well-qualified local teachers make learning fun and rewarding.     

The multitude of leisure activities in Puerto Vallarta means that there will always be after-class enticement. In addition to the obvious attractions that the city offers: the music, art, live performances, world-class restaurants, and of course the beach, there are a number of other recreation options in and around the city that excite the senses and get the adrenaline pumping.     

One growing new adventure activity in Puerto Vallarta is ATV motorcycle tours. The scenery around the city is a natural paradise for those who aren’t afraid to throw their leg over an all-terrain vehicle and make their own path. Many tours go up into the Sierra Madre mountain range; in the journey, one can weave through lush tropical vegetation and charge through rivers in search of hidden points of
interest in the jungle such as waterfalls, small villages, coffee plantations, and natural caves. The tours last between 2 and 8 hours and often include a traditional Mexican lunch and a shot of tequila to celebrate when the day is done.  What a nice weekend activity for a group of ViaSpanish friends!
 

You have just finished your first day of Spanish class at our Quito language school, located in the trendy La Mariscal neighborhood in the “New City”. The school was established over 20 years ago and is well-renowned; classes are small and offer intensive learning opportunities with highly educated teachers. After hanging out for a while in the garden chatting with other students and browsing the internet using the free Wi-Fi connection, you leave the school and walk slowly through the streets in the direction of the Old City, where your host family lives.

On the walk you notice many things. The people are friendly and the city presents a vibrant mix of colonial grandeur and modern sheen. New sights and smells fill the senses. In the window of a restaurant you catch sight of a strange food, round yellow medallions, and see people eating them with fervor.

What is this tasty treat? It is the patacón, a staple of the Ecuadorian diet. The patacón is a fried chip made of plantain, cousin of the banana. While bananas are sweet and are eaten raw, the plantain has characteristics more like a potato. It has a neutral flavor and must be cooked; it is also much larger than a traditional banana.

Patacones can be eaten plain, topped with guacamole or vegetables, or used to accompany traditional plates such as beans or rice soup. They are slightly salty and very addictive. In Ecuador, you will find yourself eating them most every day. You should take advantage of the experience because, like the country itself, you will miss it every day once you’ve gone back home.

Here is a recipe to make patacones:

1 plantain (large)
Water
Salt
Garlic
Parsley
Olive Oil

Cut the plantain in ½ inch slices. Mix the water and salt on a plate, at the same time heat the olive oil in a skillet with lid. Dip the plantain slices in the water/salt mixture and then put them in the skillet to fry. After frying them, absorb excess oil with a paper towel and use a spoon to flatten them (just a little bit, careful not to break them). Mix the chopped garlic, parsley, and a few drops of oil together on another plate, dip the patacones in this mixture, and re-fry them for a few minutes. Ready to serve.

If you have ever dreamed about studying Spanish you have probably at least considered going to Peru. The heritage of the country is so rich that it cannot help but fascinate. You may have seen photos of the gold ceremonial Moche masks or the pyramids of the Chimú, but nothing compares to having them in front of you and being able to live the history. In Lima, a combination of private or group Spanish classes at our school, daily cultural activities, and so much to explore in and around the city may leave you needing a vacation from your vacation when you get back home! 

One example of the huge cultural-historical wealth of Lima is the world-renowned Larco Museum, located in the Pueblo Libre District of the city. Walking down the halls of this extravagant museum is like taking a journey through time: the chronological galleries lead visitors through 4,000 years of pre-Colombian Peruvian history and the collection is the largest of its type in the world. It consists of over 45,000 pieces of gold, silver, ceramics, textiles, stone and wood as well as 55,000 ceramic works.

The museum is housed in an 18^th century royal mansion that was built over the ruins of a 7^th century pre-Columbian pyramid. It includes Moche, Nazca, Chimú and Inca artifacts. Of the many permanent exhibits in the museum, two that immediately grab the attention of every visitor are: the Gold and Silver Galley, which showcases the world´s best collection of jewelry used by the rulers of pre-Colombian Peru, and the Erotic Galley, which is one of Peru’s biggest tourist attractions for its huge collection of erotic indigenous ceramic. Other highlights are the Nazca mummies, textiles made from bird feathers, and a stunning Paracas weaving that holds the world record from most threads per linear inch- 398!

Our Spanish school in Lima is located in Miraflores, one of the best and most interesting neighborhoods in the city and only a short bus ride away from cultural gems such as the Larco museum. Miraflores borders the Pacific Ocean: sunbathing, shopping, and even paragliding are also highlights of the area. The school itself is located in a renovated 1930s home, and the professors are so qualified that you might chat in the common room with the foreign embassy officials that frequent the school. Both private and group classes are offered, as well as a huge range of cultural activities… the options are too good not to take this chance to come face to face with the treasures of Peru!

Photos courtesy of www.wikipedia.com.