Bariloche

We flew from Mendoza to Bariloche, it was an easy flight, about 1 hour. You see the Andes on the right side the entire time so sit on that side for a great view. The other side just shows the expansive plains – you really and truly believe there are bits of land down there that no one has set foot on. There are no roads for miles – if I was an alien this is where I would land, not NY City!

Bariloche was a great town, considered the Gateway to Patagonia. It is right up next to the Andes and is a big tourist spot for wealthy skiers as it is the exact opposite season of Aspen.

The other claim to fame of Bariloche is their many chocolate shops. The story goes that after WWII and millions of immigrants were invited to Argentina so that it’s vast lands could be more easily settled. Many of the German and Swiss immigrants were drawn to the snow-capped mountains of the Andes as they reminded them of their lovely Alps. So it was here in the late 40s that they tried to make a like by farming and ranching. To make ends meet some of the families used their old family recipes for chocolate and make truffles and other chocolate treats. Walking Street of Chocolate Dreams

There were four or five of those businesses still there and of course we had to make our way to all of them. Rapa Nui, Mamushka, Tourista, Abuela Gaye, Fenoglio and more…

There several large lakes that are a brilliant blue, then the land comes up sharply from the shore so walking the 3 or 4 streets of downtown meant you had to climb a lot of stairs.

There are a lot of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating and of course chocolate tasting so we stuck with the last one to make sure we got it done right before we moved on to the other activities. Alas we were not there long enough to try the other outdoor activities, but I’m sure we’ll be back.

One super-fun day was when we took the gondola ride to the top of Cerro Otto. There is a restaurant at the top that slowly rotates so you can see the entire Bariloche valley and the lakes that surround it. The gondola was not scary at all, well at least until you got in it. The ride was about 15 minutes and in many places it was quite high. Of course it didn’t help when the other couple in our gondola kept crossing themselves like they really thought this was a big deal. They were locals and I thought perhaps they knew something I didn’t so I got a little nervous.

And then Marilyn starts screwing around and wants to get better pictures while we are up there.

We had one of the best steak dinners there at El Boliche de Alberto. The steaks were so big each couple shared an order. So we each had 1/2 pound of steak, large pile of french fries, a huge salad and then of course I wanted to try the Grilled Provolone and it was just amazing!!!! El Boliche de Alberto on the Web. We swore this was our best steak ever, but of course then we went back to Buenos Aires and had to top it again at La Cabana!

Enjoy the pictures… Click the image to enlarge. Then click the Play arrow to play slideshow or the direction arrows to go at your own pace. To close the enlarged image click the X or just click on the image. (Don’t forget to watch the video of the Cerro Otto view at the bottom of the pictures).

Bariloche

Most of the town was pretty hilly – it was like using a Stairmaster everyday. Most of the town was pretty hilly – it was like using a Stairmaster everyday.	The town had a real winter wonderland feeling but we were there during summer. The town had a real winter wonderland feeling but we were there during summer.
Becky loved the Rebecca store – they had the most beautiful textile frocks and wraps. Becky loved the Rebecca store – they had the most beautiful textile frocks and wraps.	And the food brigade begins. And the food brigade begins.
Mamushka’s chocolate is world famous. Mamushka’s chocolate is world famous.	We had trouble picking items to taste… but we worked hard and it. We had trouble picking items to taste… but we worked hard and it.
Turista’s selection was amazing. Turista’s selection was amazing.	Doug and Abuela Gaye. Doug and Abuela Gaye.
Proof that Marilyn could resist going into another chocolate shop. Proof that Marilyn could resist going into another chocolate shop.	The cute downtown streets The cute downtown streets
Again, the architecture reminded us of Lake Tahoe or Aspen. Again, the architecture reminded us of Lake Tahoe or Aspen.	Lots of stone and wood Lots of stone and wood
This is part of the buildings the surround the original plaza. This is part of the buildings the surround the original plaza.
	This was a church that was only about 50 years old but looked like it came right out of early 15th century Germany. This was a church that was only about 50 years old but looked like it came right out of early 15th century Germany.
	Then we took this crazy tourist train. It didn’t even drive us into the beautiful woods, it just kept circling the residential neighborhoods. Then we took this crazy tourist train. It didn’t even drive us into the beautiful woods, it just kept circling the residential neighborhoods.
And then we stopped at a "beautiful vista" and the driver got out and smoked two cigarettes while we sat on a dirt road above a dry flood zone. And then we stopped at a "beautiful vista" and the driver got out and smoked two cigarettes while we sat on a dirt road above a dry flood zone.	But the views in the end were worth it. Everywhere you look was the beautiful brilliant blue lakes. But the views in the end were worth it. Everywhere you look was the beautiful brilliant blue lakes.
Dinner at El Boliche was out of this world – steaks, fries, grilled cheese and more… Dinner at El Boliche was out of this world – steaks, fries, grilled cheese and more…	I wish your monitor was scratch and taste, this was the best steak I had ever eaten (then we went to Buenos Aires). I wish your monitor was scratch and taste, this was the best steak I had ever eaten (then we went to Buenos Aires).
Look at all that food!! Look at all that food!!	My Gondola awaits My Gondola awaits
This was the easy part. This was the easy part.	This was the hard part. This was the hard part.
Under the rotating restaurant was a tribute to the work of Michaelangelo with replicas of some of his best work. I am not mature…I’m not, I’m not, I’m not!!! Under the rotating restaurant was a tribute to the work of Michaelangelo with replicas of some of his best work. I am not mature…I’m not, I’m not, I’m not!!!	See how big he is now! See how big he is now!
The restaurant was like the Space Needle in Seattle – it just slowly rotated around the most amazing view – be sure to watch the video The restaurant was like the Space Needle in Seattle – it just slowly rotated around the most amazing view – be sure to watch the video	Expansive view from up there. Expansive view from up there.
My girl never puts her camera down. My girl never puts her camera down.	The view from Cerro Otto, Bariloche, Argentina The view from Cerro Otto, Bariloche, Argentina
	We saw several condors that fly down from the Andes We saw several condors that fly down from the Andes
Don’t all winter-wonderlands have carved gnomes? Don’t all winter-wonderlands have carved gnomes?	There, now the view is better! There, now the view is better!
And then we got stuck on the way down for over 10 minutes just dangling in the air with now sound but the wind whistling through the gondola. Gee I hated this part! And then we got stuck on the way down for over 10 minutes just dangling in the air with now sound but the wind whistling through the gondola. Gee I hated this part!	But the view was amazing. But the view was amazing.
In downtown the park outside the old church was beautiful with the lake in the background In downtown the park outside the old church was beautiful with the lake in the background	The anniversary couple The anniversary couple
View of the church from the top of town View of the church from the top of town	View of the church from the church park View of the church from the church park
Their stained glass windows were great Their stained glass windows were great	Posed shot. Posed shot.
Another of the anniversary couple, Doug and Becky HIll. Another of the anniversary couple, Doug and Becky HIll.	On our last morning there we took a walk along the shoreline with all the morning Argentinians. The water was so clear and beautiful. They catch a trout and a Salmon trout in these waters – most restaurants served steak and lake food. On our last morning there we took a walk along the shoreline with all the morning Argentinians. The water was so clear and beautiful. They catch a trout and a Salmon trout in these waters – most restaurants served steak and lake food.
A good one for our funny photo series. Anyone care for a Barfy Burger? A good one for our funny photo series. Anyone care for a Barfy Burger?	And of course an annual visit to the dentist, Mr Cock, should be on everyone’s good health list. And of course an annual visit to the dentist, Mr Cock, should be on everyone’s good health list.

The video is kinda’ big.  For best viewing, click PLAY then click PAUSE (click the middle of the image) and let it load all the way and then click PLAY)