A really big hill

Saturday 11 February 2012

Today we decide we might go to this big hill nearest town, Cerro Catederal. I thought you could drive to the top. But you can only drive to the ski village. It is a very large ski village and I can see that in winter it is heaving. Those friends (and family) that love skiing, this could be a spot for you. It is about 20km from the centre of San Carlos de Bariloche. It might be on the other side of the world, but then so is Europe but just a different direction.

Back to the story. All the shops, places and lodgings were all closed but there were two ski lifts operating. We got our tickets and thought the price was a bit steep. However after getting on the first ski lift (where six people cans sit on each seat) and getting moved up a very steep (boom boom) hill, it was well spent $’s.

 Ultimately we went from about 1000m to 1900m without walking and just sitting on the ski lift. We got to the top and, OH MY GOSH, it is spectacular. The Andes!! How do you describe it?

Whilst we were bin gob-smacked by scenery, there was a huge condor flying around at eye-height and a tad lower. It had its route and it was doing laps. This particular one must have had about a 3m wing span. The Albatross suggested that I “lie down and look like food”. I think he might be looking for a new partner!!! How can a Tuna look like food to a condor! Needless to say, I didn’t obliged.

Eventually we decide to head down the big hill and have lunch. Driving down the hill we stopped on the road side where the view was good. The map then showed that we should drive to the left (or west), so we did. My first attempt at finding the gravel road didn’t work, there was a big sign saying something about military, prohibited and zone. Considering our experience yesterday where we had locals waggling their fingers at us when we drove down the road at the wrong time, we thought that this road might not be the right one. So we drove down the next one.

Eventually we got to Lago Perito Mareno which was really pretty, not too busy, a few locals and very relaxing. A quick dip by The Albatross and 2 hours later we headed back to the apartment.

Now is a really good time to be travelling where the USD is, today AUD$1.07, and most of Argentina prices things in USD or AR peso.