From the Alps to the Andes in 2 minutes

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Bariloche, in the province of Río Negro in Patagonia, is known as 'the Switzerland of the South' due to it's Alpine-inspired architecture, popularity as a skiing destination, and numerous chocolate shops. Located at the foothills of the Andes, the city faces the Lago Nahuel Huapi, a lake of 557 square kilometres with an indigenous Mapudungun name meaning Isle of the Tiger.

Our first day saw us sailing on the lake, visiting Isla Victoria and the Bosque de los Arrayanes on the Península Quetrihué. This is a popular route, as was evidenced by the amount of us traipsing through the woods on the isla and along the pathway in the bosque, a section of myrtle woodland. The return journey across Lago Nahuel Huapi was somewhat less picturesque, as we ended up completing it in darkness: the quaint little boat we had travelled on seemed to be showing its age and broke down as we were leaving the island in the late afternoon. Ninety minutes kip later, we were awoken by the sound of a brand new boat coming to whisk us back to town.

A ten-hour bus trip along the scenic Ruta de los Siete Lagos (Seven Lakes Route) was next, though the dull weather threw a bit of a dampener on the views, and the over-jocular guide, on our serenity. In the town of San Martín de los Andes we came across what would be the first of a couple of 'Irish' bars called 'Dublin' to be spotted on this trip, and a red, ex-London double-decker bus which provides tours around town. The weather cleared a little as we headed back to Bariloche through Junín de los Andes and the Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley), and we managed to catch sight of a group of condors circling overhead, Sancho and Quijote climbing uphill and the face of Jesus in a rock. Yes, the things one sees from a bus window...

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Photos

Bosque de los Arrayanes
These woods were once thought to have been the inspiration for the scenery in Disney's 'Bambi', but the rumour wasn't actually true. However, the bosque seems to survive successfully enough on its reputation as 'The Place That Could Have Inspired Walt Disney, But Didn't'.

Centro Cívico, Bariloche
The civic square.

CelticEclectic
It's a good umbrella term, 'Celtic'...

"I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house down!"
The local police station.

"High on a hill..." The Llao Llao hotel
Well-known in Argentina, this hotel, located on a hill between two lakes in the foothills of the Andes, was somewhat beyond our budget...

Ruta 7 Lagos
Along the Seven Lakes route.

San Martín de los Andes' tour bus
From Oxford Street to the Andes

Quixotic
Supposedly looks like Don Quijote on his horse with Sancho Panza behind.

Rock God
Supposedly looks like Jesus' face, crowned and in profile.