Bariloche and Nahuel Huapi National Park

First I thought: "Am I in Switzerland by mistake?"

Then I thought: "It cannot be. Because Switzerland cannot be this beautiful. Switzerland cannot be this lovely and still have relatively few tourists swarming around you. It is so pristine and undeveloped. But still it has a sense of remoteness and isolation...It must be the Southern Alps in New Zealand!"

No. it is actually southern Andes in the lake district of Argentina. And I was in the middle of Nahuel Huapi National Park. However, this was the most lovely scenery I have visited ever since my trip to South Island of New Zealand 15 years ago. In my view, even Switzerland and Canada (possibly due to that they are too commercialized and suffocated by their own popularity) cannot rival Argentina's.

Unfortunately, we only stayed in the center of Argentine Lake District - Bariloche (formally named San Carlos de Bariloche), for 2 nights. Pretty much I only had one whole day to do the sightseeing. Because our Dragoman drivers/tour leaders were not too professional, they did not have good idea of where we could go around Bariloche at all. I had to find all the usable information from my Lonely Planet guidebook. When I finally made my way by bus from Bariloche downtown to Puerto Panuelo (hey, even they have a better bus system than Baltimore!), the boat for excursion to Isla Victoria had already left. I did find my way to the Cerro (Hill) Campanario and took a ski lift up to its top (about $5). Though Campanario is not even among the tallest mountains in the region, I did have some wonderful panoramic view of the area.

This is a place I will not forget for many years to come.

Lloa Llao Hotel and Resort, just across the road from Puerto Panuelo (where you can take a cruise for Lake Nahuel Huapi sighseeing) is the most expensive and exclusive hotel in Argentina (which cost almost $400 per night). I tried to have a look of what it is like inside but was asked to leave after the doorman found out I was not a paying guset there. well, a hotel this expensive usually is very snobbish.

Taking the ski life to the top of the Hill. The sun was very strong up there!

For more Bariloche pictures, please check my website at:

http://travel.saricie.com/SouthAmerica2006/Bariloche_en.htm