Onward to Bariloche - chocolate capital of Argentina

Another long day on the truck ended in us arriving in beautiful Bariloche. Our wonderful new friends donated the only 2 person room to us and we started to enjoy the fantastic alpine town of Bariloche. Christmas eve we went on a lake and waterfall trip. An early start to get us to the first boat which took us across a stunning blue lake towards the chillian border. Next onto a bus to the next lake which was in contrast a vivid green, onto a smaller boat for a round trip to an alternative Chillean border crossing. Back on the Bus and then a lovely walk to a fantastic waterfall before final boat and bus home. Some entertainment caused by the YTS driver of the return boat.... never seen such appalling boat handling from a professional.

Back to the hostel for a quick change and taxi into town, after 4 attempts found an ATM willing to give us money and then found a chocolate shop and supermarket to stock up for lunch. Had dinner at an all you can eat buffet with amazing selection... Buffet table must have been about 20 metres long.

Christmas morning spent pigging chocolate and lazing around until we decided to take lunch down to the lake where we shared the shade of a tree with some young brazilians on holiday. we shared some of mums christmas cake with them and they told us they were on a climbing holiday..... would have loved to have climbed but I´m a bit out of practice now. Managed to coax myself into the lake.... it took 10 minutes and I swam for about 30 seconds before escaping the freezing water. Back to the hostel and changed for dinner.

we all went out for dinner together and Franz one of the tour leaders handed out the secret santa gifts... chocolate, a bag and a duck cork for us. Shared a fantastic starter but the main was delayed so much we cancelled it... the starter was more than a meal in itself so we had a very cheap feed. Back to the hostel to share the remaining cake and whiskey picked up in duty free with friends... great day.