Residencial Tito San Carlos de Bariloche

... walk with high tea at the impressive LLao LLao hotel (one of Argentina´s most famous hotels). The cloudless sky combined with a view of lakes, lush forest and snow capped peaks was simply stunning.

The following day saw us hiring bikes and cycling the 20km "Circuito Chico" loop. The hilly terrain certainly got the heart pumping but the views were well worth the effort.

We were meant to leave BA on Tuesday but Ror was expecting a package from home which still hadn't arrived so we stayed another day. We went to palermo park and it was gorgeous. There is a lake in the park and also rose gardens so it was really pretty to while away a few hours there. We went and checked if the package had arrived and the woman was a cow. Ror had already gone in the morning to check if it was there and ...

... Campanerio. On the bus I met Michael the singing Californian. He´s a great guy who has been traveling by land from California over the last 20 months buskign to survive. We climbed Campanerio together. After we headed to Cervezeria Berlina where the guys happened to be and downed a pile of 2 for 1 pints during Happy Hour. God Bless Happy Hour. After dinner we went and watched Michael play at one of the local pizza places. He is extremely ...

... gezien het feit dat wij twee samen met een stel sjacherijnige Amerikanen het geheel vormde, ook niet zo heel erg moeilijk. Lisenka had een pittig paard gekregen die meestal de strijd won om voorop te lopen en ik zat op een sneaky bijtertje dat waar hij kon naar de Amerikaan hapte, of in ieder geval naar zijn paard. Ik geloof stellig dat de paardkeus volkomen willekeurig was. De route was misschien niet uber-spectaculair, met een flinke tijd ...

12/2/09-17/2/09 Bariloche is just like a little Switzerland. The buildings are made from raw timber or rocks, in that chalet style. We felt like we were in a ski resort. The bad thing was that it was cold again down here, and very very windy. We asked if it would be windy again tomorrow and we were told quiet matter of factley that we were now in Patagonia, it was always windy here. We also found out that everything was ...

... If you want Anna to arrange any excursions or activities, she will do that as well. We arranged for a multi-sport day with Anna and her husband Gabriel, doing rock-climbing, fly fishing and canoeing. You can read about that day in our journal! Anna at Wild-Patagonia is very professional and highly recommended. As is her husband, Gabriel, for guiding on treks, rock climbing ...

... with a fair few steep hills and Neil had to wait at the top while Katie got off and pushed her bike. He then had to wait again at the bottom for Katie who was too scared to go down fast and had both breaks on - speed queen she is not! The last hill was a killer but the view from the top was amazing overlooking all the lakes and made it worthwhile, as did the chocolate we each recieved on returning the bikes safe and sound! The next day we´d ...

The Nahuel Huapi Traverse Having lost our 'organising' day due to the unexpected cruise at the end of the last trek, we decided to take a rest day before attempting what the LP describes as the most popular trek in Argentina. I don't believe it for a minute. Spectacular it is, but it is far too tough to be the most popular hike. Five days, four with at least one significant (code for ´tough´) ascent and most with two, and correspondingly steep descents made for twisting ankles. I ...

... The water was so blue and it reflected the snow capped mountains that hovered behind. The roads between these cities seem a bit bland and do not have a lot to see, but when you come to the cities in this area, it is just breathtaking. The first day we made our way around town and just looked at the shops and tried to find an ATM that would take the card. Apparently, Siobhan´s bank had sent her a new card without her knowing and had ...

... very busy in summer.... though there were loads of school parties around... We took the ski lift right up to the top to get a perfect view of the Andes, and the first mountain marking the border with Chile. AMAZING!!! It was really hot but it was also snowy! Crazy stuff! :) Today we just bought our bus ticket as tomorrow we are leaving for San Rafael on the road to Mendoza, the wine country! LOADS OF WINE TASTING! :) Hasta luego todos!