Scenery, Iceballs and Stout
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008Day 186
There is actually more to do in Bariloche than mullet watch and eat chocolate. Today we were heading back to Puerto Panuelo or Llao Llao for a boat trip on Lago Huael Nuapi.
After our dessert for breakfast we walked 3 blocks to the bus stop where we caught the #20 bus to the dock for the boat. We paid our admission price and joined the rest of the passengers waiting to board the boat. Looking around it appeared that besides us there was only one other foreign tourist. We boarded the boat, taking an indoor seat. We cruised west towards Puerto Blest, and the lake narrowed as the snow cover mountains closed in. It was an incredible ride. In spots waterfalls tumbled down the mountain sides right into the lake. Jordana and I walked outside to get a few pictures but it was freezing out there. Just over an hour after leaving we reached the end of the lake, Puerto Blest. There is no town here, just a hotel/restaurant and a road that leads to another lake where you can cross into Chile 10km away. The setting however is beautiful. Surrounded by rocky peaks and the bright green water of the glacier fed Rio Frias flowing into the lake. After a few passengers departed the boat we crossed the small bay to another dock. We had 3 hours here, where there are a few trails leading up into the woods. One followed a river that tumbled into the lake below. A side trail lead us to a hidden lake with towering mountains that seemed to rise straight out of the other side. Near here was a Alerce tree, similar to the redwoods in California it was a giant.
Jordana and I headed back towards the boat and after some confusion realized that we still had 2 hours till the boat left. There was another trail that circled the bay back to Puerto Blest, about an hour walk. We walked through the woods filled with bamboo, snow still covered parts of the ground here. “Ouch, that’s an ice ball NOT a snowball!” I shouted as Jordana nailed me in the arm. I tried to get her back but missed. Besides isn’t there a rule that says, when the snow only makes an iceball you just have to drop it? Maybe kids in my ‘hood were just more ethical.
We eventually returned to the boat and just in time. The wind had really picked up and the temperature dropped. The ride back was just as beautiful but its been a long day so we both just feeling tired. We returned to the hostel and after showering went to have a good pasta meal down the street. Since it was our last night in Bariloche we figured we’d go out for a drink. Back at the hostel we asked Derek, the American staying there is he wanted to join us. The three of us headed to a fantastic pub where they made their own beer. We tried the stout and porter and for the first time in South America I tasted great beer. It was a good end to a good day and a great stay in Bariloche.
Michael Coroneos