Jan-2014
Bariloche and my secret home
Why can’t these Argentinean people just be NOT kind! Arghh.. Everywhere I go I seem to end up wanting to stay longer. I have no complains at all, but it’s just so difficult to move on to the next destination. I’m totally in love with this magical country.
An Airbnb home
A week ago I arrived to Bariloche and the place where I was supposed to spend the night was completely hidden somewhere far away from town. The owner wasn’t even at home when I arrived, so I had to make an expensive taxi ride back to town and search for a new place to stay. As I noticed that all the hostels were completely booked I decided to spend a night in a hotel for an expensive 350 pesos a night. I definitely know by now that I don’t like staying in hotels by myself, so I started browsing through the Airbnb website for a family who would let me stay in one of their extra bedrooms. That’s when I found Amapola, the home of Camilo and Mariana (brother and sister)
I checked out of the hotel and started walking from down town Bariloche to their home, which cost me like just 15 minutes. They are located very close to the city center, but a tourist could never find it if they didn’t know it exists. To me it’s like a hidden gem of Patagonia, because whoever is visiting Bariloche would probably want the complete experience and you won’t get that in a hotel.
You’ll want to spend more time
When I arrived at Amapola, or as I like to call it Maripola, I started thinking about spending another few days in Bariloche so that I could hike to Refugio Frey and go see the hippie village of El Bolsón. Just because Camilo was super enthusiastic and convincing me to spend more time at their place was easy. Camilo knows a lot of amazing places where any other tourist would not go to because the tourist information offices don’t explain about these hidden gems. I ended up staying five more days and following Camilo’s advice on things to do and see.
Amapola
Amapola is actually a flower, but in this case I’m talking about the best place to stay in Bariloche. Two very sweet locals have created a home for the tourist that likes to experience the local culture.
If you’re planning on staying here, you’re going to feel the hippie lifestyle of the most people from Bariloche.
They live with the 4/20 rule of which I guess those who do too will like.
They can currently accommodate up to 12 persons at their house, sometimes with shared rooms. I got a room to myself most of the days during my stay, so that’s also possible. They have Wi-Fi and also a cat and a dog, so whenever you’re done with the digital world you can hang out with their cute pets 🙂
Look at me, I’m so cute, I know you want to pet me!
Back home it’s my parrot that doesn’t let me work, here it’s the cat
And what does it cost?
The room has a cost (low season) of 100 pesos per night, they have a laundry service for which they charge 30 pesos and you can use their kitchen for 20 pesos. What happened to me was that I was spending a lot of time at their home during lunchtime and so they would invite me to have a Argentinean lunch with them. That means eating a lot of meat in the afternoon and of course have a glass of wine!
artists
Mariana loves to hang out in the living room during the day and chat with you in Spanish about really anything, while Camilo prefers to speak English since he has been living in California for a long time. So no worries if you don’t speak Spanish! The family exists out of artist and you’ll notice when you set foot in their home that every piece of furniture has had a personal touch.
Beer tasting
On my last night in Bariloche I went out for a beer with Camilo and he showed me some local bars and a restaurant so that I could try the different home-brewed beers of Bariloche. I had to leave the next morning very early, and thankfully Camilo offered to bring me to the bus station so that I wouldn’t have to wait for the public transport.
Muchas gracias chicos para hacerme sentir en casa en Bariloche! Hasta la proxima!
About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
- Web |
- More Posts(369)
comment this post
Klinkt als een fantastische tijd daar <3
Zeker good times! X
Je hebt het echt geweldig he schat!!! Super!
Jij zou je hier ook goed vermaken! Vooral met al die huisdieren 😉 Dikke kus lieverd!
Oew, sounds good! 😉
If you go to Bariloche, you should definitely try this place 🙂
Wauw! Gaaf! Dikke knuffel!
Dikke knuffel terug knapperd!
How do I contact them, Renate? I am here, now. Thanks.
Hi Greg! Great to hear you would like to meet this amazing place! You can contact Camilo by his mobile phone number (he also has WhatsApp ;-)) which is +54 9 294 432-5801
Hope you have a great stay over there! Let me know how it was please 🙂 Cheers
[…] Casa de familia, Amapola – Amazingly nice people. It’s as if you’re at home. He speaks English and she […]