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Published: August 15th 2008
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Hotel Splendid
Complete luxury after weeks of bunk beds Polly:
We arrived at Hotel Splendid in Buenos Aires a few days before starting our trip and spent a couple more days exploring the city. I got a minging cold which was a pain but a private room was the best place to be when you're feeling rough. We saw a bit more of the centre, went down to the plush dock area (Puerto Madero) and went out for Thai (for a break from red meat).
On the 6th we met our GAP group and all went out for dinner to an all you can eat meat restaurant. There´s 15 of us in total; 1 French Canadian, 1 German, 1 Brazilian, 2 Australians, 3 Americans and 7 Brits. It´s a good mix of ages (18-67) and everyone mixes well. There´s always people to hang out with, do an activity, or cook a meal with which is nice, but no obligation to do stuff as a group if you just want to chill.
We left Buenos Aires on the morning of the 7th and headed to Bariloche on a 22 hour coach journey. As if my cold wasn´t bugging me enough, I got travel sick within the first hour
and spent some time in the coach toilet emptying the contents of my stomach. If I didn´t feel that bad before using the loo, I did after. However nice the coach, coach toilets seem to be of a universal standard. Luckily I improved later and got some kip.
As we got close to Bariloche the snow started. It made it really pituresque. It´s like a swiss town with a touch or Latin American Flava. We stayed in Periko Hostel which was like a chalet. Ross and I shared a room with Kyle and Cindy from the US. Our bunk beds were made of stuck together trees with all the nobbles and bobbles still on.
As Bariloche is the South American Capital of chocolate, we went to the chocolate museum on the first day. It was interesting, but was a bit too much museum and not enough chocolate. They did give us a cup of hot liquified chocolate which was amazing. In fact all the hot chocolate here is amazing, it´s really gloopy (or scoopy) and has melted chocolate in it.
The next day, 6 of us got a transfer to Cerro Catedral, the local Ski resort half
an hour away. After a few teething problems (boots, bindings blah blah blah) we tackled the mountains. It was sunny for most of the day and the views across the lake were spectacular. It doesn´t have the same organisation or finesse of Whistler or even Europe, but it makes up for it in South American charm. Also, every now and then I remembered it was August and I was at the top of a mountain in Patagonia!
I almost came a cropper at the top of one of the chair lifts. Unlike the more health and safety resorts, they don´t always have an upward slope to guide your skis/boards as you aproach the top of the lift, nor are there signs telling you to keep your tips up everywhere. I was chatting away, just about to get off when my tips hit a wall, they went down bending my legs backwards until my wonderful bindings did what they´re meant to and my skis fell into the safety net.
Shortly after we were at the top of the mountain. I was on my phone and Ross was taking photos. A big gust of wind came and flipped over Ross´
Las Malvinas tribute
Every day Falklands veterans protest about their pensions board and it took off. I chased after it but when I saw it going for the edge I lunged forward on the floor. The end slipped through my fingers as it accelerated towards the edge of the mountain and into the out of bounds area. No one around could see how far it had gone or in what direction. Ross hiked down through the deep snow, and about 400 metres down found it in a bush. Very relieved, we set off again.
Ross and I went back the next day and it was really snowy so we had some great powder skiing. Despite a few decrepid Pisten Bullys sat around, we didn´t see any evidence of pisting so the runs merged into one. They did have run markers but at times it looked like a pretty lollypop display with green blue and red lollypops doted around in no particular order. To make it a bit more confusing they used the same red lollypop piste markers for areas of danger!
Some of us went out to a steak restaurant in Bariloche. The menu consisted of Filet, Sirloin or ribs. It was goooooooooooooood.
The wine here is awesome
as well, and very cheap. After 8 years together, Ross has finally succumbed to the charms of red wine.
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lizzie
non-member comment
The charm of south america
I am so nostalgic seeing your photos from Argentina, you cant not fall in love with it!... I am so happy you are there ! Ross I was the same as you, never touched red wine until Argentina, it was life changing! I am in Portugal staying with my firend, her boyf is Brasilian, we want to make a trip this christmas. I miss it, i miss that laidback, fresh South american vibe! Enjoy it all!!! keep the stories coming. love Lizzie xxx