Cruce De Los Andes, 1

The crossing of the Andes from Bariloche in Argentina to Puerto Varas in Chile affords quite a look at the lake districts in both countries. It takes two days and involves four buses and three boats each way. We spent the night at a Swedish/Chilean (!) hostel in Puerto Varas, Compas del Sur. Jan. 23.

We were pretty excited to be doing the turbuss/turboat thing

The route, three boats, four buses

Still on Lago Nahuel Huapi

"Yo soy el capitan!"

Perito Moreno, the founder of the national park system, is
burid on an isalnd in Nahuel Huapi

Lakes, mountains, forests, waterfalls...

Debarking boat #1 at Puerto Blest

Taking the next bus to the next lake and boat

In the great old forest

Next boat

African Queen

Argentine immigration; here a cloud temporarily fell, as the
chief officer found fault with Vicki''s passport; but it all worked
out; thanks to our Chilean guide, Christian, and his colleagues

Progress report

Welcome to Chile

El Tronedor again, from its Chilean side

Glacier and waterfalls

At the restaurant at Peulla; water cascades over the glass ceiling
to cool the place

The bar at Hotel Natura

Rhubarbs..."poor peoples' umbrellas"

Time for another boat

Incredible color from the glacial sediments

Orsuna, the big volcano in the area

Closer up

Its neighbor, Puntiagudo ("the pointy one")

Infrastructure in Puerto Varas

A German community, founded in the 1890s

Vicki's dinner

OK, so imagine a 5 inch bun, the bottom of which is slathered
in guacamole, then thin sliced sirloin strips, then 3 strips of
bacon, then sliced tomatoes, then a fried egg; I can't believe I
ate the whole thing (well, not the bun)

Bariloche, 2

Much of our weekend in Bariloche was spent researching excursions. Bariloche is the gateway to Patagonia but also the capital of Argentina's lake district, providing access as well to Chile's lake district. It took a couple days to research and consider and make reservations, but we decided to do both the "crossing of the Andes" bus/boat trip to Puerto Varas, Chile, and the "seven lakes" excursion to San Martin de los Andes, in Argentina. While all this was under way, we managed to see a bit more of Bariloche and environs. BTW, properly speaking, it's San Carlos de Bariloche. Jan. 20-22.

Crossing the Andes...four buses, three boats...

And after the lake districts, the above...why not do them all?

Bariloche is on Lago Nahuel Huapi; on the eastern slopes of the Andes are many,
many huge mountain lakes; Nahuel Huapi is among these; it reminded us of both
Lake Tahoe and Flathead Lake in Montana; except that Nahuel Huapi is larger and
very largely undeveloped, except at Bariloche; it is a huge, formerly glacial lake

Walking along the shoreline

Pano

Local art

Crafts market

Bariloche plage

Still eating well: a Milanesa (breaded pork or veal, cheese,
tomato)

Another removal! This time to the nice Hosteria Amapolas,
where we stored gear and then spent three more nights

Sculpture above a brew-pub

One day we took bus #20 up to Llao Llao, a hotel of some note, for the views of
Nahuel Huapi and environs

El Tronador, the Thunderer, the volcano and big mountain of the area; the thunder
refers to avalanches of its glaciers

Nahuel Huapi from Llao Llao's golf course

Porta Panuel, from whence we will be taking the catamaran to begin our crossing
of the Andes; and return

The port; fleet's in

Llao Llao; non-patrons are not permitted except with a guide

Where's the protein (beef)? Breakfast spread at Amapolas

Time for one more helado... (alas, not very good)