Bariloche

On Friday 21st January we caught the 15.00 bus and stayed at the Bariloche Hostel for 250pesos per night, en suite. Expensive but Bariloche is full! Walking around town that evening it was obvious that Bariloche is quite a sophisticated place with millions of people and Saint Bernard dogs and puppies on the main square for visitors to take photos of. The tourist office is first class.

On Saturday, in the heat, we walked the 6km along the beautiful blue lake Nahuel Huapi to the chair lift to take us up to Cerro Otto. Bariloche is 800 metres asl and the summit is 1500. Fantastic views from the top over the lakes and mountains. A little picnic was taken at the top. Then we walked the 10km back down the mountain to the hostel. In retrospect it might have been sensible to take the cable car back down, especially as we had bought return tickets. But being intrepid ( does that mean stupid, old or both, do I hear someone say?) we managed it but were really glad to get back. Dinners and lunches are taken at the hostel in an endeavour to keep costs down.

On the Sunday we booked for the coach, then boat trip to Isla Victoria and Bosque de Arrayanes. We eventually got to the port, on the lake, at 10.15 and two huge boats, both full with maybe 500 people set off to the Bosque de Arrayanes across the beautiful blue lake with steeply wooded shores. The tree sanctuary was fine and with the wooden board walks , it meant that people and nature were kept apart but the number of people made it like a cattle show.

Over to Isla Victoria which was wonderful with many species of huge trees mainly firs and Sequoias. The island could lose all the people and so we took a little picnic and had a half hour siesta under a shady tree. It was warm. We walked further through shady woods with a vivero ( nursery) and really enjoyed our four hours on the Island. Back to the hostel on the coach via a small fender bender when an old blue car did not quite realise how much room a coach needs to turn. The coach lost a tail light and the blue car would not start again!

Monday was chill out day . We did not do a lot but wandered around town and explored the largest chocolate shop.

On Tuesday we hired a car. It was a brand new GM , two door with air con but no power steering and a good engine and gear box. We went along the coast road west on the circuito Chico and stopped to examine the small port from where we had taken the boat previously. As recommended we went to the Hotel Llao Llao car park to take in the view . We drove round the headland and did two short walks to the hidden lake and the Roman bridge and then came across a fantastic mirador (viewpoint) looking northwest. Incredibly there was a "tame" bird of prey by the side of the road. Photos were taken and Malcolm will have to tell me what it was a bit later. We still had lots of time left so we went to Cerro Catedral , a ski centre in winter but a mountain bike and hill skate board and walking centre in summer. The 3 chair lefts took 50 minutes to ascend and we got better at getting on and off on each occasion. The summit at 2300 metres produced excellent views and I got an outstanding hot dog with home made chili pickle at one of the stop points. We had to fill the car with NAFTA ( no idea) and needed three garages before we found it. I suppose we got back to the hostel at 8pm.

We are of the opinion that the majority of Israeli Youths travelling ( especially the young female ones) are doing a much better job of promoting Palestine than the Palestinians could ever do. 95% of these youngsters are arrogant, self opinionated, disrespectful and obnoxious. We met a couple of older Israelis ( 30 something) and they said that they did not like to admit to being Israeli due to the behaviour of the younger people.

On the Wednesday we went on the bus trip to Monte Tronadur (3400 metres) which is perpetually snow covered at the top, It was a long trip in a minibus on largely dirt roads. Close up to the mountain the views were fabulous and we scrambled 200 metres or so up to the Gargantua del Diablo for a closer view. No further because of risk of rock slides. Because it was our last night and we had been good with lunches and dinners we had dinner at the Italian restaurant down the hill. I has Bife Chorizo with papa fritas and Ianne had tagliatelle with bechamel, wild mushroom, chicken and ham sauce. Delicious. An Irish Coffee was taken and the cuenta showed 6 pesos for the coffee and 4 pesos for the whisky (6.30 pesos =1 GBP) . Funny old game! Tomorrow it is the 16 1/2 hour bus ride to Mendoza.