Bariloche...Mendoza...Goodbye Argentina
This blog is long overdue an update and I will rack my brains to try and figure out the right sequence of events since Ruta 40.
Next stop was Mendoza, the argentinian wine region. Backpackers always meet at least twice on a journey and that is exactly what happened to me at the Bariloche bus station. Clara is a franco german girl I had met previously in Chile and we got on so well that we decided to continue our journey together.
Mendoza is a pleasant city with wide tree lined avenues and a huge main square. I had decided to continue on my adrenaline seeking activities and thought it would be a good idea to go paragliding (the cheap factor was non negligeable). The idea also appealled to Clara so we decided to do it together. The feeling was quite exilirating. What we lacked in views (they were quite plain ...) we got back in the fear factor and the extremely odd sensation of flying feet up in the air!
All too soon it was time to say cheerio to Argentina, eat our last steak, drink our last glass of Malbec and head off into Expensive Chile.
Next stop: Rapa Nui (aka. Easter Island)
I arrived in Bariloche and stayed in a lovely hostel with views on the lake Nahuel Huapi. Bariloche is THE winter resort town in Argentina. It has a great location on a lake and is surrounded by foresty mountains. The town has a bit of a disneyland feel with St Bernards on the main square ( you have to pay to get a picture taken with them) and many many chocolate shops.
I had only one full day to spend there so I decided spend my time wisely and I couldn´t think of anything better than white water rafting. This was not my first time (re: Costa Rica) and I have tto admit that I much preferred the Bariloche adventure. The team was extremely friendly and safety conscious, the rapids were thrilling both in their power and the narrow paths we had to paddle through to overcome them without falling in. The water was crystal clear and drinkable (tested and tasted good!) which contrasted beautifully with the lush green forests surrounding us. We also all got to jump into the water and swim through the rapids (safely of course). In the end we were rewarded by having a huge asado (Argentinian BBQ) with heaps of red wine.
I had only one full day to spend there so I decided spend my time wisely and I couldn´t think of anything better than white water rafting. This was not my first time (re: Costa Rica) and I have tto admit that I much preferred the Bariloche adventure. The team was extremely friendly and safety conscious, the rapids were thrilling both in their power and the narrow paths we had to paddle through to overcome them without falling in. The water was crystal clear and drinkable (tested and tasted good!) which contrasted beautifully with the lush green forests surrounding us. We also all got to jump into the water and swim through the rapids (safely of course). In the end we were rewarded by having a huge asado (Argentinian BBQ) with heaps of red wine.
Next stop was Mendoza, the argentinian wine region. Backpackers always meet at least twice on a journey and that is exactly what happened to me at the Bariloche bus station. Clara is a franco german girl I had met previously in Chile and we got on so well that we decided to continue our journey together.
Mendoza is a pleasant city with wide tree lined avenues and a huge main square. I had decided to continue on my adrenaline seeking activities and thought it would be a good idea to go paragliding (the cheap factor was non negligeable). The idea also appealled to Clara so we decided to do it together. The feeling was quite exilirating. What we lacked in views (they were quite plain ...) we got back in the fear factor and the extremely odd sensation of flying feet up in the air!
All too soon it was time to say cheerio to Argentina, eat our last steak, drink our last glass of Malbec and head off into Expensive Chile.
Next stop: Rapa Nui (aka. Easter Island)
Labels: Argentina January 2007, Bariloche, Mendoza
2 Comments:
You look fit :o)
Yeah! No wonder you weren't blogging - you were having too much fun in Argentina. Ojala pudieramos estar ahora contigo. xx
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