Via Bariloche

Via Bariloche is a great bus company, very recommended if your traveling long distance in

Argentina. It literally feels like a first class cabin on a plane, attendant & meal trays included. for safety, they alternate drivers every few hours, which is good to know since the interior of Argentina, the Pampas, is a huge grassy plain that can be very boring to drive through. The Pampas (fields in English) are were the Argentinian cowboys, Gauchos, once reigned.

Upon nearing Bariloche, the scenery starts to get a lot more interesting. The road winds up & down the Andes foothills & crystal clear blue lakes abound.

Bariloche has a decent modern bus station that is situated right near the gorgeous Nahuel Huapi (pronounced: nowel wapi) blue lake.

We found some basic hostel & immediately went looking for some good treks at the tourist hut.

At the grocery, & to our surprise there were a few big supermarkets in the town, I almost bought some innocent looking Oreo cookies until my friend pointed out that they use (non kosher) animal fat in the ingredients. Soon you realize that the Latinos put animal fat in almost everything that Americans put milk or butter in to.

It was a Monday & at the local Chabad house (Jewish traveler center) it was Shakshuka & chips night -Shakshuka is an Israeli delicacy of eggs cooked with tomatoes & hot peppers- & beer & storytelling. Its a great crowd getter. Like a home away from home.

I think the name of the trek we chose was Laguna Negra. Or maybe it was Laguna Verde. First thing in the morning I went frantically looking for a good sleeping bag & found one for about $95.

We then took a local bus to the bottom of the mountain & set out. First through the trees, then above the tree line, finally we passed a fairly decent size glob of ice & then we hit the summit.

The view was awesome! At least 3 volcanoes can be seen, on the border with Chile, towering peaks & many blue lakes. Then we headed down to a green valley for the night. The way down was along a steep mountainside covered in all sizes of rocks & had to be navigated slowly. I dont even think there was any path there.