Jan-2014
The seven lakes & San Martin de los Andes
At eight in the morning a very comfortable looking bus waits for me to hop on so that we can start the tour to the seven lakes & San Martin de los Andes. As I pick a seat the nice local guide, Federico, looks up my name on the list and I can tell they have communicated by phone because my last name is written as Richter instead of Rigters (happens a lot). It’s always funny to see the variety of changed names I get while being abroad. The very friendly and funny driver is called Pato, I guess because he walks like a duck. His real name is Antonio though.
Nahuel Huapi
Federico explains that Nahuel Huapi was originally found by people from Denmark, but it still has an indigenous Mapuche name. Nahuel means puma or tiger as in fighters, because of the “aggressive” history of the Mapuche people.
The world wide well known “ruta 40” runs straight through the National park of Nahuel Huapi. They made the road through the park a bit wider as usual so that the bicycles can ride there safely. There are only four traffic lights in Nahuel Huapi and the same goes for Bariloche.
The lake side of Nahuel Huapi has many little bays which are perfect for drinking some mate for example, Antonio adds to the explanation of our guide.
It’s summer (December to March) here in Patagonia right now, but in Europe it’s actually winter. Weird!
People go camping near the lakeside, but they will have to go to a camping site because they can’t just camp somewhere by the road.
Coffee and cake at Villa la Angostura
The garden of Patagonia
We make a twenty minutes stop at Villa la Angostura for some coffee and I notice that this village is as big as five blocks. It is well known though. Some even know Villa la Angostura as “el jardin de la Patagonia”.
Lago Espejo
As we start our tour to the seven lakes, the guide and the driver share their mate until the driver says “gracias” and the guide will be the only one still drinking.
We stop at almost all the lakes, but of course it’s not possible to take a photo moment at every lake. Some are not very accessible, but I can enjoy the view a lot from the bus too.
Lago Correntoso
According to the guide, my Spanish is better then the Spanish of the other people on the bus – whom are from Argentina – but then of course he means Spanish from Spain. Yes, I still do have the Spanish accent apparently 😉
Lago Escondido
We pass by a very pretty green lake, which reminds me of the blue lagoon in Jamaica somehow. It’s hidden though behind the trees and that’s why they call it the hidden lake. This is one of the lakes where there is no place for cars to stop, so I just took the photo from the moving bus.
Lago Falkner
Lago Machonico
San Martin de los Andes
To get to San Martin de los Andes we have to turn off the Air conditioning, because of the height of the road. We’re at a 1000 meters above sea level and we’re going to 600 meters for San Martin.
Menu of the day: Ciervo a la Cazadora (bambi)
Upon arrival it’s about lunch time, and since we have two hours to spend at San Martin I’ll go for a quick menu of the day. The menu turns of to be really good today, lucky me! I order the Ciervo a la Cazadora and a glass of red wine.
When I’m done with my lunch I make my way to the beach. I take my shoes of and my socks and enter the transparent waters of San Martin de los Andes. It’s soooo refreshing! I just love this feeling! Wish I had brought my bikini. The two hours at San Martin de los Andes pass very quickly and it’s already time to go back to Bariloche. I have been spending the entire day visiting so many places and seeing so much beautiful nature that I wish the day wouldn’t end. Time passes fast when you’re having fun!
Lago Lacar, at San Martin de los Andes
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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.
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