According to Lonely Planet South America, El Bolsón, a small town two hours south of Bariloche, is "as close to Berkeley, CA as you can get in Argentina." Our interest piqued, Julien and I decided to take the Via Bariloche omnibus over the hills and by the lakes to get to a 20,000 strong hamlet of campers and dreadlocks.
To our chagrin, our hostel was to be found 4km up rocky dirt roads inclining steeply towards fierce Patagonian mountains. Upon surviving the bumpy remise ride, however, we were delighted to find a one-month-new hostel that we were to share with just nine other people. Lovely.
Back down the hill in town, we browsed the Artesan Market that draws visitors from all over Argentina. I lamented that we had already lunched, because there was a smorgasborg of natural health (and not so healthy, but deliciously smelling) food to be found: artesan juices, raspberries, healthy empanadas (!), waffles with wipped cream... Amongst the stands we found hippie cheese that we purchased from an inseparably in love hippie couple. There is nothing better than being love hippies who make their own cheese.
We then stumbled upon a concert in the park surrounding the fair, where we rocked out to Arbolito. Impromptu hippie dancing, with hippie children and their hippie parents, with bare feet in the grass decorated by the obligatory Argentine anklets. Both of us were entertained to no end by this baby who was equally entertained by a puddle of mud (not the band).
Other activities included underestimated hikes: the physical kind, (when it says 6 minutes, they mean 25, and when they say 60 minutes, they mean 90) to waterfalls and indian heads, as well as a hitchhike, where we basically speed-dated 2 argentines on the back of a truck.
Over and out! |
Photos Argentine
Carnets de voyage Argentine
Vidéos Argentine
Carte Argentine
Guide de voyage Argentine
Santé Argentine
Billets d'avion Argentine
