780m
Well that was the coldest I have been in a very long time. I did pack everything waterproof as it did look as if it would rain today, and wore pants and a jumper but the wind cut right through!
We started off by Nestor, our guide picking me up just after 8 and asking if I spoke Spanish. Not enough. We went around the other hotels in town and I proved to be the only one who didn’t speak Spanish. Nestor did fill me in on most things that was telling the rest of the group, but definitely not all.
We started off driving next to Nahuel Hapi Lake, which is huge and goes to around 400m in depth. The waves were beating on the shore and although we drove by Pretty Beach (Playa Bonita), no one was swimming. Our first real stop was at a lookout with a cable car named Cabanas Terrazas Del Campanario. The top would have the most amazing view in clear weather, and National Geographic has named it as the best viewpoint in the world, at least according to Nestor. However, it started snowing lightly on the way up and the wind was intense. We got to spend 30mins up there and despite the view, it was enough. It does have great views of the other lakes, Moreno, Laguna el Treboi, and even the Llao Llao forest and hotel. We found out later that Llao Llao is an edible fungus that grows on the local pine trees. However, we drove on and stopped at various viewpoints, some with friendly St Bernard’s that you could have your photo with, for a price, and then we reached Condor Viewpoint. On the opposite side to the lake from us with a sheer cliff going up around 800m and above that, unfortunately too far for a decent picture, 2 condors. In all the time we saw them, which wasn’t too long as it was cold outside the bus, their wings never flapped. We got closer to the Llao Llao Hotel and spotting a marina I asked Nestor about it. “Oh that’s for when the boat and bus crossing is working.” I’m booked for it tomorrow. “Oh no, there’s been flooding in Chile and you can’t take it.” Well, I haven’t been informed and had just received a message from Scenery stating that my ride would be at the hotel at 8:10. Nothing about a change of plans. I guess we’ll see.
On getting back into Bariloche around 2:15 I went seeking this mythical chocolate that Joy and Garry had raved about. I found Mitre Street easily and then it was the hard job of selecting what to buy. The empanada for lunch was a much easier choice. Bags packed I went looking for one of the recommended restaurants for dinner, but none of them opened until after 8pm so I managed to find a very nice family owned one, which filled with locals and managed to have a fine steak.