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Published: March 13th 2010
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We are wrapping up eight days in El Bolson, Patagonia, a small town nestled in a beautiful valley. The kids will tell you about the highlights of our stay:
Amit: “El Bolson is a nice place in the middle of nature. One day we had a hike to a hidden waterfall. All went well until on the way back the trail got itchy and we decided to take a shortcut. We found out in the end that the shortcut was very dangerous. Another day we rode a horse! It was a 3 hour horse ride to a place called Cabesa del Indio which means Indian Head. At first my horse was lagging behind but with encouraging words he sped up, on our way back we crossed a river without a bridge! Another day we went to a lake called Lago Puelo. First we went into the water, it was freezing. To stop ourselves from getting frost bite we did vaulting in the water. Next we rented kayaks. We tried to circle the lake but it was too big. We also hiked up to a place where we saw the whole lake. This was big lake surrounded by snow topped mountains and
green hills, it was a very nice view.”
Shakked: “El bolson is a small town surrounded by mountains. Just like Tepoztlan. Also, just like in Tepoztlan, we are sleeping in a small hotel and having Spanish classes. But here the Spanish classes are only for 1.5 hour every day and we go on hikes. On our second day here we went on a 12 kilometer hike. For the first 7 km or so all went well, we reached our two goals: the Indian’s Head - a rock that looked just like the profile of an Indian’s head - and a waterfall. Then things started to go awry. We heard of a short cut, took it, and got lost! Wandering around, we finally made it to a cliff. From there , there was a path winding for the hundred meters or so drop. To make a long story short, we took it. Ironically, far below us on the ground, was a graveyard. So, if we fell, not only our bodies would not have to be carried off to a graveyard, no hole would have to be dug. The path was about a foot wide. Gripping on to thorny bushes we
somehow managed to walk (slide and stumble would be more appropriate words) down the cliff. Morale: never take a shortcut.
On another day we went on a shorter hike. It was not really remarkable, save for the view you got at the end; you looked down on the kind of rug you would find in a preschool. A few hundred houses, several dozen large streets, and some smaller ones. This rug was El Bolson.
After that we had two excitements in as many days: horse riding to the Head of the Indian and going to a lake on a nature reserve. The horse riding was great - if a little bumpy. It was an hour and a half of riding to our destination and an hour and half back. During the whole ride the ground was never flat and smooth except when we were riding on the streets. The trail was littered with rocks, bumps and holes. Sometimes we found ourselves sliding down sandy inclines or struggling up steep outcroppings. My horse was named Butterfly, yet she was anything but small and dainty. A big, solid, dark brown horse, Butterfly made it a point never to follow instructions. Every time
she stopped to rest or eat I would try threatening, cajoling, rein-tugging and heel digging, all to no avail. When she decided to go, she would go. It was very tiring, I can tell you that.
The next day we went to the lake I mentioned before. The lake was a vast, glittering blue jewel set in the landscape as we looked out on it. Behind us was a forest, in front to us snow capped mountains. To either side, heavily wooded hills and cliffs. After about 2 or 3 hours of swimming in the freezing cold water and sunbathing we rented out two kayaks. My dad and Amit in one, I in the other. Ima stayed on the shore with Maytal. It was huge fun, the bow of your kayak slicing through the water like a hot wire through butter; you could paddle or just trail your hand in the water. That is the end of the event of two great days”.
Today we had another hike, a steep climb to a 1800 meter view point above the town. The boys were wonderful, hiking up with very few complaints - they are starting to be real good hikers!
And as always, we ended our day here with another wonderful ice cream…From here we are heading on Monday to Bariloche, a bigger town but still amidst lakes and forests. We are very happy to be in Argentina - the scenery is beautiful, the people are very nice and warm, and of course - the ice cream...
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Tutu
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Well! That's a story for Saba Benni! I mean your hike back from Indian's Head. I'll take pictures of him reading about it. If they're as funny as I think (hope?) they'll be, I'll send them to you. In any case, we are both developing an appetite for Argentina. The pictures I liked best this time: the 3 gentlemen on horses (or, rather, donkeys - according to Shakked's description), Maytal having mud baths, the lake and the mountains, Ilan looking very pregnant in the 'In a carved tree forest' picture, the Noys in the freezing water (not even the 'wild horses' you rode would have dragged me into the lake. And, of course, ALL the other pictures. Hugs and hugs and hugs. Tutu