Living on a working estanica and hotel is busy, the first days passed slowly the work hard and my lack of Spanish made communicating with the local staff very difficult. I work alongside an argentine chef who does not speak english but her patience is incredible and she is finally being able to communicate a little more with me as day by day I have been learning new words and am getting near the point of having enough for a whole sentence!!!

The skies in Argentina are the brightest blue and contrasted by white clouds, they resemble the argentine flag. Every time I have a break I step outside and feel the engulfing heat of the sun beating down, summer is coming and soon it will be unbearably hot but for now these last moments of spring are helping the transition from english autumn. I have yet to try the Peruvian Paso but have had the chance to ride across the rolling mountain range on a beautiful horse who seemed to channel his inner mountain goat when the rocks became steep and we need to ascend to yet another breathing taking view. The views are 360 and from the highest point “Top of the World” you can see miles, on a crystal clear day you can see as far as Cordoba and beyond!!

Working in the kitchen is an experience like no other, a family set up makes the kitchen open to anyone so with other staff walking through and clients popping in to see whats happening the kitchen I really think is the heart of the estancia. Learning to roll an empanada traditional to the Cordoba province has been incredible and Natalia the head chefs method of teaching is say nothing and let me watch until I have worked it out for myself.

The first 10 empanadas went straight in the staff pile but soon I began to learn the tricks and now its coming more naturally. Argentine cuisine is a high concentrate of meat and potatoes, living on an estancia we eat a lot of beef but the cleverly designed menu means its not beef 3 meals a day, 7 days a week.

Alongside this the argentines have some of the sweetest teeth I have ever meet. Dulce de Leche is almost considered a food group and i’m looking forward to learning the argentines way with deserts, pastries and cakes.