Bariloche, Argentina

This past weekend we enjoyed the Monday off and traveled to Bariloche, Argentina. It's the second Monday day-off Chile has had in the last month. Holidays here rock and happen as frequently as the Cowboys lose football games nowadays. Too soon?

Friday afternoon myself and some volunteers in my program boarded a bus to take the 5 hour trip to Bariloche. The bus drive included incredible scenery as we passed through Puyehue National Park. Thank goodness because the bus showed 'Titanic II' as its feature video. Didn't know what was going to happen...Anyways, with snow of both sides of the rode, the bus drove quite slow until we got to the border. Once I got my passport stamped and was asked what I was doing in Chile and coming to Argentina for, we re-boarded and drove in darkness until we arrived in Bariloche a little after 10pm. Our hostal was a solid recommendation from a previous volunteer as we had a penthouse hostal for only $10 USD a night. The view, which I saw for the first time when I woke up Saturday morning was a panoramic view of all of Bariloche and Lago Nahuel Huapi. There were mountains, mountains, and more mountains.

Also since the town is a very tourist driven city, English is as common as Spanish. It is always a treat to talk English with Latin Americans and I even managed to get a business card from a 35 year-old international marketing manager from Buenos Aires. Email her or no? On Saturday we walked around the city, visiting many chocolate stores which Bariloche is known for, saw St. Bernard dogs who pose for pictures with people for a small fee, ate delicious pizza, and celebrated Halloween at a local Irish pub.

On Sunday myself and Laura, a fellow volunteer went on a 15 mile bike ride through the mountains. The views for absolutely incredible, as southern South American always provides, and until my camera died I managed to snap some great shots. I ate a pancho, which is simply a hot dog and at this particular place, a hot dog with potato chips on top, then resumed my bike ride. Great energizer. For every downhill we cruised down, and cruised down fast I tell you, there was a nice-sized uphill waiting after. Along the trail we met students who were studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Israeli's who had just gotten out of the army (and in a conversation with each-other I heard them called me Ging-Ging. I asked them if I was Ging-Ging and they confirmed it. The beard doesn't disguise anything..), a South African, and many Europeans. Aside from losing my Nalgene of three years, all went great. Argentina is a beautiful place, and Bariloche is equivalent to the Aspen of South America with all it's tourist attractions, high-priced hotels, and skiing attractions.

I thoroughly enjoyed Argentina, its people, and the distinct accent (much easier to understand them than Chileans or maybe that's my five months on this continent talking), and the beautiful scenery it provided. I now enter my last month in South America with trips lined up for Cochamo, Chile, called by many the Yosemite of Chile because of its huge stone walls famous for climbing, a hike up Volcan Villarica in two weeks with a volunteer, and then off to Santiago for the closing ceremonies and to meet my dad at the airport as we embark on the fly-fishing trip of a lifetime in Southern Chile. He also gets to meet my host family and students!

Some quick notes:
1) My host family has put pictures of me up on their family wall. There is a picture of me solo and also with the family. This will no doubt be a difficult good-bye.
2) I gave one of my students a Twizzler last week courtesy of a package sent by my mom, and as soon as he put it in his mouth his loose tooth fell out. He told me he was going to get $15,000 CHP (roughly $30 USD)
3) I showed a Man vs. Food episode to my students. Not a good idea when you miss American cuisine.
4) Host family said I look like Shaggy from Scooby Doo. Not the first time (Dad...)
5) The dog is peeing in the picture with the church.