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Published: September 21st 2012
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We bought a three day pass for skiing and so unless there is a massive dump of snow in the next few days, today will be our last one skiing. We got up in time for the gondola opening
at 9.30amonly to be told they had opened early today and would be closing early too. As we weren't the only ones who didn't know this was happening there was still hardly anyone up the mountain this early. The first couple of runs we did were a bit icy but there wasn't anyone else on them which made up for it. We did the same run a couple of times over and the conditions improved every time, until we were actually really enjoying it. Then we stopped for a coffee. The cafe had fabulous views and yummy treats. Harriet had another submarino. The chocolate bar for this one was actually a submarine. Suitably charged by caffeine and sugar we headed back to the slopes.
We went back to the other side of the mountain and skied down to the lower lift. Once more the snow was almost water down there and it wasn't pleasant. Unfortunately it was the only way to get
to the top which had a fantastic run. When we got down it Toby insisted there was a shorter and better way to the lift. Harriet and Fiona didn't like the look of it as it was full of moguls, so they waited whilst Toby went on his own. They weren't trusting his judgement after yesterday. They found a good spot to watch him which was great fun as he fell and fell and fell. He did admit when he got back that it wasn't as easy as he thought. Fiona and Harriet spent the time waiting for him burying their feet and amassing a stockpile of snow balls, which they pelted at him when he returned. He had left them at a cafe and skied off with the money.
When we had totally exhausted ourselves we returned to the car only to discover the battery was dead. Many of the cars in Argentina are not late models. In fact we have seen several cars on the road that we remembered from our childhood. The rental cars are also not very new and the one we had rented had no warning when the lights were left on. The list
had been on the whole time we skied and there was no way the car would start. We tried pushing it but it still wouldn't go. Two of the parking attendants came to help. It was fun trying to communicate with them as they spoke no english and our Spanish has not got beyond basis words. Eventually they sent Toby off to a cafe to ask for jump leads. Whilst he was gone another attendant came back from lunch. He found jump leads, stopped a passing car and we were ready to go. We just had to wait for Toby who realised we had got the car started and came back. We tipped the attendants and drove off.
We decided it was immoral, illegal or just plain wrong to be in Bariloche and not try the chocolate so we went into town to get some. There were loads of places to choose from but we liked the look of Mamuschka and it was given a good review in the Lonely Planet. We chose several different chocolates to make up a box and then navigated the purchasing process. In order to be served we had taken a ticket like at
the deli counters at home. Once we were served we were given a docket. We took the docket to the till at the back of the shop where we paid and were given a receipt, which we took back to the service area to pick up our chocolate.
Back at the apartment we searched for a place for dinner. The place we chose was a steak house or parilla called El Boliche de Alberto. It was given good reviews and we had only been to one parilla so far. It turned out to be a very good choice. The menu was limited but we did find something for Fiona to go with the steak for Harriet and Toby. From our seats we watched the waiter slice and season the steaks and then cook them on a huge grill. When he tasted the steak, Toby realised that everything they say about the steak in Argentina is true.
We watched Catherine Tait again and ate the chocolates. They were fantastic. The liqueur ones were the nicest but there weren't any we didn't like. We plan to try some other stores but Mamuschka will be hard to beat.
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