After sampling almost enough steak and wine in Mendoza I took the 20 hour bus ride to Bariloche, located further south in the Argentine lake district. Its funny but 20 hour bus rides are a lot easier than 20 hour plane rides, although it helps that the movies shown are in english with spanish subtitles. I felt just a bit sorry for the 47 non english speakers on the bus who couldn´t read the tiny Spanish subtitles.

Bariloche is bloody beautiful and the hostel I stay at is on the tenth floor with views of the surrounding lakes and mountains. The area is similar to Europe at times with its architecture and scenery and Alaska at others with stunning forests and mountains.

I go white water rafting on the Manson River my first day in town, which was indeed a memorable experience. It was the scenery that made it such as the rapids were fairly tame but for one or two small sections were we actually got wet. The river was so scenic as it carved its way through canyons and lush green forest with the water itself being an emerald green color that just looked surreal. Following our 12km of rafting we were transported back to the cabin for an asado bbq lunch of different beef cuts and chorizo sausage....yum.

The next day I teamed up with Byron of the UK to climb the whole 25min of Cerro Campinario where there are 360 degree views of the lake district in all its slendour. We sip hot chocolate and eat cake to the delicious views.....I like this place! Next is another bus ride to view Argentinas most famous hotel. Its an amazing setting with the snow capped mountains in the background but we choose not to stay there.

Next im off to the town of Valla de Agnostura, which is a little toursty post 80km north, but its touristy for a reason.... the Parque Nacional de los Arraynes adjacent to the town is sensationally pretty. I hire a bike and hit the national park dirt for amazing vistas of the lakes and forests here. There are special trees and the tourists love em, but I think they just look like red gums back home. Anyway, I take some happy snaps for the wife and kids all the same. Sipping on a cold one and throwing back some cake I while away the afternoon on the lakes beaches.

Back to Bariloche for some more hiking. This time its Cerro Catedral for the Frey Refugio. Theres some dramatic scenery at the top with rocky spires and magestic views. I hike for roughly 6 hours with Cole from California and we thoroughly deserve our huge sirloin steaks at the end of the day. The next day I climb Cerro Otto solo, which is another touristy peak with a chair lift and I think I was only about the 3rd to climb it that day.

I enjoyed my time muy mucho in the lake district along with the 50,000 Argentine tourists who are here on summer vacation. It really sucks. I had to actually reserve hotels and transport for a change!