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The coach trip from Valdivia to Bariloche was possibly the best yet. Unable to get a night-bus, we left in the morning and headed towards the Argentina border. Let me tell you, crossing the border was like stepping through the wardrobe to Narnia! Instantly there was snow. I´m not talking the measley amounts we get in London that grinds the entire city to a halt, I´m talking SNOW! mountains of it! The trees were covered, the roads were covered, even the people were covered if they stood in one place too long! I´ve never seen so much before in my life! After a few hours of blindingly white views, we arrived in Bariloche... and what a place. Think ski resort in Scandinavia, and you´re pretty close. Bars and restaurants in log and stone buildings, shockingly posh hotels, and snow!
Our first stop for the evening was Wilkenny, an Irish pub, with Guiness on tap!!!! After savouring the goodness for about an hour, we headed out for dinner, to a rather popular fondue restaurant. I´ve never had meat fondue before, but I can safely say I´m definately having it again, and as much as possible. Meat, sauces, hot oil in a cauldron, and skewers.... Dinner and entertainment in one! What more could you ask for!?
So the next day, rather than sitting around enjoying the coffee, we decided we should go out and try one of the tours, and so caught a bus to a mountain chair-lift where we would apparently see views of Bariloche and the surrounding lakes (this was the Lake District after all). We were a little shocked to find the chair-lift was actually the type used y skiers and was simply a seat on a cable, with no protection from the elements. With the heavy snow, we were a little dubious, but decided since we were there, that we might as well do it. Besides, they provided massive yellow waterproofs, how bad could it be? We jumped on and started up the mountain. It was freezing, albeit rather beautiful!!! We reached the top covered in snow from head to toe. It took 10 minutes of digging to find Yaz among it. : )
Anyway, we finally made it in to the cafe at the top, where we were to see the amazing views, looked out the window and saw... FOG! A think blanket of fog, that was it!!! After half an hour of waiting for the snow storms to die down, we headed back down the mountain, and decided that any more tours here would be equally hampered by the snow. We headed to the bus terminal, slightly defeated, to book a coach for the next day to head to Puerto Madryn, only to find we were snowed in!!! The coach couldn´t make the journey the following day because the roads were blocked by snow....!!
The next morning we awoke to bright sunshine, and with a little hope, headed once again to the bus terminal to book our tickets. No luck. We were still snowed in. After half an hour of checking with practically every booth in the terminal, and attempting some very dubious Spanish, we found a coach company that used a different route, and so booked a ticket for the next day. Another night in beautiful Bariloche isn´t so bad...
previous travel blog entry
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