El Bolson is a small town in an Andean Valley, with Chile just 5 miles away over the Andes. Parents - you are very lucky, we would stay here forever but there is a school party of 30 teenagers arriving this afternoon so we have to leave.
This is a fertile valley and our hostel is 5km north of town, in the countryside. After getting a local bus, where the driver knew where we were going before we opened our mouths (Scary!!) then told us where to get off and which path to walk down, we arrived at hostel El Pueblito. http://www.elpueblitohostel.com.ar/
We walked in to a large log cabined room with an open fire, a friendly welcome, and then the best bit... we didn't realise we were staying in our own little log cabin!! The heater had been turned on, it was warm and cozy.
Martin says the best bit is the home brew beer, light and refreshing, only comes in litre bottles.
Or was it the company? Unsually, on our first night there were 3 English backpackers here, two of which were another married couple (we've not met another couple travelling). Martin feels like a soft city boy, again, as the other was a lad of 21 (Oli), who had just spent 3 weeks trekking across Argentina by himself, following a river, killing his food as he went. Apparently eyeballs and brains give you the protein you need. He was still getting used to socialising again.
Saturday was hot and sunny. The three of us went to the town, taking a leisurely hour stroll via back roads and fields to the artesan market. Kara looked at crafts, Martin and Oli decided what to eat for lunch. As usual in Argentina on a weekened, the place was full of families and kids and dogs all chilling out.
To help Oli regain his place in the world, we let him play Scrabble with us in the evening.
Yesterday the two of us did this journey:
- taxi to track at the bottom of a mountain (10km away from hostel)
- walk 1/2 way up mountain
- hitch lift to the car park 3/4 way up mountain
- walk up steep track to woods where there is a sculpture park. Admire sculptures.
- carry on to Refugio at 1400m. Admire stunning views of Andes and the valley below. Drink hot chocolate.
- Refuse lift back town off couple who gave us one up. Walk for 2 hours back down whole of mountain.
- walk back 5km along road to town. In pouring rain. Get taxi back from bus station to hostel.
Spent the evening in front of the hostel's open fire, reading, chatting, reading, sleeping, eating.
Today we are moving on (sob!) to Trevelin, a Welsh settlement, for one night. Apparently it has an awesome tea shop. Then overnight bus to (Puerto Madryn) Peninsula Valdes, on the East side of Argentina. Going to miss waking up and seeing the mountains but we'll be back to the Andes soon.
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