The Lake District - Argentinian style

... except like it´s not like being in the Lake District in England, it´s more like being in the Swiss Alps. But with lakes.

Here are things about San Martin De Los Andes-

• it has the best hostel we have stayed in. It´s like being in a hotel!
• all the buildings are like little swiss chalets and ski lodges
• it´s very mellow. Lots of little parks with kids playing or people fishing in the little river that runs through it
• there is a labrador that likes to sleep on the picnic table outside our window
• we could have done a guided walk to the top of a volcano... or do what we did, a 3 hour make it up as you go walk up the mountain to a great view (see photo of Lake and Kara) and then on to a teeny tiny village (5 houses, 1 school, 2 llamas) to have our picnic lunch by a small waterfall and its stream
• we could have paid 15 quid each to go on a bus trip of the 7 lakes tomorrow... or pay 3.50 each to get the local bus to the next town, which follows the same route. But they won´t stop for us to take photos though.
• Loads of cute gift shops with artesan crafts (Martin calls this tat... Kara calls it art)
• they have very nice, if expensive, hot chocolate...
• ... and internet with Skype so we could call our parents (and Ros).

Things about fell running by Martin

• It hurts when you run up mountain bike trails for 3km
• it hurts even more when you slip on rocks coming back down...
• For anyone thinking of taking up this sport in the mountains, I´d recommend at least blue belt standard breakfalling... or the ability to look where you are going
• Great fun though, especially when you go faster than the horse riders doing the same route...
• ... but not so much fun for the group of middle aged women who watched me fall over and roll for a bit before I stood up again, failed to remember the Spanish for "I´m okay!" so just waved at them like a moron.
• Finally, mothers should be aware that I am fine.

Things about chatting to your mates and shopping while your husband goes fell running by Kara

• it´s much more civilised if a little more expensive

Interactive blog!!

Nicky has sent us our first question!! "What have you eaten that I wouldn´t?"

• Cow´s tongue
• Cheese and jelly for desert. Together.
• Steak with sweet, cold apple sauce
• Biscuits for breakfast (bus company favourite)
• Goat
• Pork, egg, pepper and gurkin sandwich (this was a "we don´t know what this is so let´s order it and see what comes out" lunch)
• Shot glass full of pureed beetroot

Right, off for Round 2 of the Scrabble Tournament. Martin leads 1-0.