Trip to Villa Aquila Quina

While in San Martin Marlene and I took a 30 minute boat ride up the lake to a small community called Villa Quila Quina.

Some nice beaches and trails.  We had a nice lunch and of course a nice cold beer.

The boat we rode up in.

Day trip to Chile

On Feb. 24th we decide to do one last tour.  We are going across the border to Pucon, Chile.  There are 10 of us on this tour and we start off early at 07:40!  It only takes about 1.5 hrs. to the border but you have to go through two border checks.  One on the Argentinian side and one in Chile.  The landscape is quite diverse.

  I have never seen a forest of Monkey trees!

We see the Volcano Lanin on our way which seems to be quickly loosing the snow on it.

The other Volcano is Villarica which is active and you can see the steam escaping from it.  It is quite close to the town and quite visible no matter where you are.  

Pucon sits on a lake and is quite pretty.  Marlene and I had lunch as we had four hours to kill while in the town before the trek back to San Martin.

While passing through the border back in to Argentina we were asked for our proof of payment for our Reciprocity fee.  Didn't even think about it as we were only going for a few hours so we had left our receipts in our apartment.  They weren't happy with us and it did take some time but they finally allowed us back in without having to pay the stupid fee again.  What a pain!

San Martin de Los Andes

On Tuesday, Feb. 18th Cedar and I checked out of Amigos del Bosques and caught the bus.  Cedar headed south to El Bolson and I headed north to San Martin de Los Andes.  Harry, my host, met me at the bus terminal and we walked the short two blocks to the apartment that I would call home for the next two weeks.  It is the top floor (3rd) and has two bedrooms.  

San Martin is a beautiful town on the lake (Lago Lacar).

It is very picturesque.  Roses grow everywhere.

The beach is great.  Only two blocks away.  Marlene arrives on Thursday and I meet her at the bus station.  She has taken the bus from Buenos Aires.

One day we take a taxi to the top of the hill overlooking San Martin.  There is the tea house, The Arrayan.  The view is fantastic.

We take another tour and see the Seven Lakes.  This takes us to Villa La Angostura and Bariloche, both of which Marlene has not seen yet.  We then take a different route back to San Martin.  This all takes 12 hours.  It's a long day but worth it.

The rock formations are unbelievable.

Exploring Villa La Angostura

Yesterday Cedar and I decide to take the boat trip one way to the Bosque Arrayanes or forest of Arrayanes.  This is a protected National Park to preserve these trees which they claim are unique to this peninsula.  The area is beautiful, Lake Nahuel Huapi is calm as glass.  We catch the boat at 11:15 and the ride takes approx. 30 mins.  We get a 30 min. orientation on the forest but of course it is in Spanish.  We meet a man (Daniel) who speaks English so he is acting as our interpreter.  Interesting man.  Retired Engineer who is originally from France and now lives in Chile.  He accompanies us on our hike and points out different varieties of trees, flowers, and bushes.  This is a hobby of his.

Argentinian flag on the back of the boat.

Boardwalk on our orientation of the Arrayanes trees before we head off on our 12 km. trek.

Up a tree.....as you can see Cedar is way more adventurous than me!

After our 3 hour hike we met Daniel's wife, Sophie and went for a well deserved cervaze then they gave us a ride back to town.  We're dusty, hot and tired.  Back to the hotel for a lovely dip in the pool.

On to Villa la Angostura

Leaving Bariloche I catch the bus to Villa la Angostura.  This is about 2 hrs. north of Bariloche, about half way to San Martin.  I catch a cab to my hotel which is a good 6 kms. out of town in an area called Puerto Manzano.  These towns were developed totally for tourism.  The area is beautiful and really popular.  I have a suite at Amigos Del Bosque which is beautiful.  Decided to spoil myself on this one.  View of the lake, veranda overlooking the lake, king bed, jacuzzi tub and a view from the bathroom to boot!

Cedar has left Ginny's and joins me arriving late at 10 pm.

The water is so clear and blue.  You feel like you could just drink right out of the lake.

One of the beaches....nobody on it....the water is a little cold but it's just so beautiful!

Those wonderful Andes!  Just amazing.

Chocolate and museums!

Today it is cloudy for the second day in a row so I had decided it would be a good day to see the museum which I am told is very good.  The entry is only 25 pesos but I only have 100 pesos.  The gentleman waves me through...so nice.  It's very interesting.  Patagonia is so diverse.  A large part (mainly east of the Andes) is dry, dessert like as the moisture coming off the Pacific gets dumped west of the Andes.  The high Patagonia winds prevail mostly east of the Andes.  The vegetation and wildlife vary dramatically due to these two very different areas.  Lots of history with regards to previous settlers is recorded at this museum and luckily a lot of it has been provided in English.

Next I decide to go to one of the recommended chocolate shops where you can actually view them make some of the chocolate.  Oh so good!

 This train set is completely made of chocolate!

In the town square several people have St. Bernard dogs and pups complete with the whiskey barrel under their chin available for pictures.  Perhaps when the winter snows arrive they are actually put to work?

Colonia Suiza

Yesterday I caught the bus to Colonia Suiza, an early Swiss colony approx. 25 kms. out of central Bariloche.  While waiting for the bus I overheard a couple speaking English so I started up a conversation.  They were from Ottawa and were waiting for the bus to go to Catedral for a five day trek.  Sounded amazing and this is where I feel jealous.  This is the type of thing that would be so amazing but not as a single traveller my age.  I think I have missed the boat on this one...perhaps in my next life time!

I board my bus which takes about an hour to reach Colonia Suiza.  As I disembark I think to myself "where is this cute little Swiss village.".  Somehow I have pictured a town like Leavenworth....cute little Swiss chalets....not so.  I walk for about 15 mins. down a dusty road and then I glimpse the first of many little artisan's shops, restaurants, hostels.

I browse a few of the shops and buy a couple of cute bracelets.  I visit some gardens as things here seem to grow very well.  Raspberries seem to be a main product however are finished for the season.  I find a cute little place to eat and treat myself to the special, limon troucha.  Trout cooked with a light, lemon cream sauce.  Served with pan fried potatoes and salad.  I order a local crevasse (beer) to finish it off.  Delicious.  Desert is included (home baked apple pie) however I am trying to catch the 3 pm bus back to Bariloche as I am unsure when the next bus will be so I take the pie to go.

No bus, I have missed it (if there was one at all) so try to find when the next bus will be.  There is a microbrewery by the bus stop so I ask the fellow there.  He says there might be a bus at 4 pm but maybe not.  If not then, perhaps at 6 pm?  After all this is South America he says, he shrugs and smiles apologetically.  What to do?  Settle in to wait.

The bus comes at 4 pm and I head back to my apartment.  Today is cloudy....first day that it hasn't been bright blue skies.  The mountains across the lake take on a different dimension.

I am thinking perhaps I will take a bath tonight....I have another look at this tub.....mmmmm...definitely not made for someone as tall as I am.  I cannot even straighten my legs out let alone lay down.

Exploring the area

Today I caught the No. 20 bus which took me to the peninsula Llao Llao.  This took about 30 mins. from the centre of Bariloche and I disembarked at the Llao Llao hotel.  

The area is beautiful.  A lot of the houses have a definite Swiss flavour.  I walked several trails and treated myself to lunch at the hotel.  It seemed extremely quiet at the hotel but what a beautiful building.  5 star so I wasn't snapping a lot of pictures inside the hotel.  Everywhere I looked outside was a gorgeous shot.  Tomorrow I will take another bus and explore an area called Colonia Suiza.

I did dip my toe in the lake and it wasn't too chilly.  I did see some children in the water, someone kayaking and a couple of paddle boarders.

A Trip to the Top

Cerca Otto is a local ski hill (1405 meters high) only 5 km from the centre of Bariloche.  I hopped the shuttle bus which took me to the cable car and up the mountain.

There is a revolving restaurant at the top.  The only one in Argentina.

For some reason David was there along with some paintings of Michelangelo's...go figure?

The view was amazing.

Craggy peaks and snow capped mountains.

What a great place to hang glide...this guy just took off...got a great video of him.

and then after a quick bite and cold beer on the Main Street I went for a quick dip in the pool at my apartment!