January 17, Tuesday – Flight to San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina

Today’s travels took us to San Carlos de Bariloche via transit though Buenos Aires.  We are now in the foothills of the Andes on the southern shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi.

We are in a lovely hotel right on the lake and have a sliver of a lake view from our hotel room.  

Lake View from our window

First item of business was collecting our cameras for a walk around the main section of town.  The lake is so large and it is so windy that there a pretty major waves hitting the shore and it almost looks like there are swells in the lake.

Our first stop was the Neo-Gothic Cathedral with its tall steeple, beautiful stone facade and lovely stained glass windows.  

The town is a major ski area so the Christmas tree in front of the Cathedral was made of skis and ski poles.

The main street in town is a pedestrian mall with lots of shops selling winter and sports related clothing, interesting street art,street artists and musicians.  

It center of town has a distinct flavor of Bavaria/Switzerland meets Belgium because of the ski related shops and the chocolate shops on every corner.  Bariloche was a haven for Nazis after World War II and they brought with them a German architecture and chocolate making industry.  Such temptations.  We heroically refrained.