Sorpresas y Cena Fiesta part deux

We’re going to go back in time quickly here because there are two things all travelers must know: allow for surprises and always be willing to learn something new.

We were surprised in three ways when we landed in Bariloche, the famed town in the beautiful Seven Lake region of northern Patagonia. 

Sorpresa Una: After we woke up and were wowed by our lakeside view at our hotel, we were then even more surprised to be joined at breakfast by our friend Udo, husband to Marina. We met Marina and Udo in Iguazu one morning after they told us they were witness to Our Lady of the Poolside Acrobatics’ stupendous tumble. Marina was at a conference in Buenos Aires and we had invited Udo to join us for some hiking in Bariloche. What a delight to have him show up that morning! We all had a great time hiking and touring the lake over the next two days.

Sorpresa Dos: Bariloche’s claim to be make the best chocolate in Argentina was, well, let’s say, not really true, as affirmed by two very expert chocolate eaters.

Sorpresa Tres: While the lake region is visually spectacular, it is probably no surprise that its resemblance to the Alps of Europe is probably why it was a haven for the Nazis after the war. The political history of South America is so complex, we won’t begin to delve into its treacherous waters here, but I didn’t care for the secretive airs of Bariloche’s fascist history.

Chrissie and I quickly planned an alternate location and on day two we left the ghosts of Nazis for the promise of a hippie town. Where we landed was a tiny B&B outside of a town, run by a French woman who could cook. We were in hippie heaven!

For two and half days we relaxed. We visited a forest that had been burned and its remains turned into sculpture. 

We hiked to a refugio where we enjoyed tea and a delightful meeting of many people from all over the world. But as proof of the small world feeling you have when traveling, we chatted for two hours with a guy who was born in Britain, taught school in Oakland and lived in Healdsburg. 

Learning to Cook

On our last night in El Bolson, before our 20 hour bus journey to Mendoza, our wonderful host Odile invited us into the kitchen and taught us how to make a proper soufflé. Kenny y familia de Chrissie have a lot to look forward to when she returns home with her new culinary skills, but someone will have to show her how to use the oven!

We had a lovely dinner party, just the three of us, talking about food, love and laughing about life. Que vida loca de las chicas! 

Here's the recipe complete with spelling errors (some of them the delightful corrections assumed by my iphone).

See more photos below. Next, that crazy trip across the Andes!