Argentina

---

Esquel was quite a pleasant surprise. I didn't know much about the town beforehand but it turned out to be a very nice place.

---

Photos

Esquel
Train station

Esquel
La Trochita

Esquel
La Trochita

Esquel
Heading up to La Hoya

Esquel
This was kind of a wierd experience. We drove up to La Hoya ski area hoping to ride the chairlift up and maybe see a little snow. When we got there, the lift wasn't operating so we decided to hike along the trail next to the lifts. It started snowing pretty heavily and we finally made it up to the ski area after a nice little slog. When we walked inside the lodge, we were met with strange stares and were asked how we got there. When we told them we walked, they only stared at us more and told us we couldn't stay there and we'd have to leave. Then, when we turned to leave, the bartender said we could stay a little while and offered to sell us coffee, beer, etc. We took him up on his offer and he told us that the ski patrol was there having a training lecture and that we must be very quiet. Soon after, the 20 or so ski patrol members came downstairs and stared hard at us for a couple of minutes before they went outside to begin training. After an awkward 15 minutes or so making small talk and drinking coffee, the bartender insisted on taking our picture outside from every conceivable angle before we left. It was kind of like the Argentine version of "Deliverance". In fact, though my Spanish is quite bad, I think I heard the bartender say I sure did have a purty mouth...

Esquel
Just outside Parque Nacional Los Alerces

Esquel
Parque Nacional Los Alerces

Esquel
Just outside Parque Nacional Los Alerces

Comments

[Meemee]

Haha
The La Hoya ski lift story is both funny and creepy!

[Code99]

It really was an odd experience-----but it was the kind of thing that makes travelling so much fun...