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Published: June 13th 2017
Geo: -41.1333, -71.2833
Day 6 – October 27, 2014
Travel is a strategy for accumulating photographs. -- Susan Sontag
We had a long travel day, as Puerto Varas is really just a stop off to get us to Bariloche, an Argentine resort town in Patagonia. So we traveled south through Chile and then east through two stopovers at Customs Stations – one for Chile and one for Argentina – and a "top over" at the continental divide.
As we headed south, we learned more about:
Spanish conquistadors who arrived in the region in the mid-16th Century
Jesuits who landed to convert the nation to Catholicism
Germans who colonized the area – paid by the Chilean government -- bringing with them specialists in raising cattle and dairy animals, farming and growing barley.
The truth is, because the Germans were so well established here, the German language and food so dominant, it made it easy for post-WWII Germans to settle here. They didn't even have to learn Spanish.
For much of our ride through southern Chile, two volcanoes dominated the skyline: Puyehue and Cordón Caulle. They form a major mountain 
Boat ride to Bariloche
Tommye FLeming, Candace Martz, Marti Lanese, Patrick Arnall, Anne Leveronemass in Puyehue National Park in the Chilean Andes. Caulle is notable for having erupted following the 1960 Valdivia earthquake, the largest recorded earthquake in history. The damage from that quake, and another in 2011, was evident throughout the morning. Chile still has 80 active volcanoes.
We climbed to an elevation of 4000 feet and crossed over the continental divide and into Argentina. The summit is in the Nahuel Huapi National Park, established as the first park in 1903. Just before the summit, we went through Disembarkation at the Chilean Customs Stop and after we descended, we officially entered Argentina.
Nearby was a refugee residence of Butch Cassidy, The Sundance Kid and Etta Place, who grew weary of being chased by the law and fled to South America.
Among the differences between Chile and Argentina are:
Both use the peso, but Chile's is 585 pesos to $1 US. Argentina's is 8.59 to the $1 US. Chile's currency is stable; Argentina's is not.
Chile is famous for seafood, especially salmon. Although Argentina boasts about its trout, its real claim to fame is its beef (tough but tasty in my brief encounter).
<li style="color: black; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";
font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">Both countries are heavily influenced by Germany. Argentina also has Italian and Swiss influences (the latter makes chocolate quite popular around here).
Argentina has 40 million people, while Chile has just 15, making it the little sister.We had lunch at Tinto Bistro in Villa La Angostura, Patagonia. Most all enjoyed their lunch choice, from curry chicken to lamb quesadilla. Then we transferred another 10 minutes to a Patagonia Catamaran for a two-hour ride across 200-square-mile Lake Nahuel Huapi to Llao Llao Resort (pronounced several ways, including "Ji-ow Ji-ow" here in Patagonia).
While we motored, our Argentine guide Lucia introduced us to maté latte, a sort of tea concoction consumed by 90% of the Argentine people, from a personalized gourd. Some call it maté latte. Some Yerba maté. But whatever you call, the Argentines can't live without it.
The setting for our resort is breathtaking. High on a hill, overlooking an exquisite lake, with 18 holes of golf and other lush landscaping, this place just can't be beat. Other amenities include ski runs and complete spa facilities, so it's popular all year round.
We checked into our
hotel, checked out the facilities and relaxed before dinner. We dined on property and retired early. Tomorrow is a free day, something you don't get often with Tauck. I don't deal well with down time. It will be interesting to see how we will fill our day.
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Bear and Cassidy
non-member comment
Hmmm, still no mention of how much you miss us. We see how it is. Don't worry, we're doing just fine without you too!