Bariloche

March 30, 2023

Bariloche

Bariloche 21st March to 26th March

After a very long bus ride to Bariloche on the overnight bus we finally arrived at about 10 pm the next day (big trip but worth it to get an idea of the scale of the countryside and take in some of the landscapes). Bit of argy-bargy getting a taxi to our abnb another. A bit of detection work required to find the apartment (taxi driver turned the wrong way and no English and us no Spanish) then problem solving to get inside key (in locked canister near garden). Then a problematic lift to fourth floor. All this negotiated got to bed after 11pm. The apartment was central to the main city centre and 1 block from the lake front very nice.

Known for its German immigrants coming to Bariloche both in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries both before and after the world wars. Many Germans fleeing the Nazis settled in Argentina. It was evident to see the German influence in the architecture. This town is also renowned for its chocolate and there were many shops selling and they were always very busy.

On the first day at Bariloche we did an evening tour of the town called the “German footprint and Nazi presence.” This was well facilitated and very interesting. Bariloche has had rumours of WW2 war criminals hiding out in its town. From what we could make out from the tour one has since been extradited to Italy, Capt. Erich Priebke. Doco - link here if you are interested.

Another story was about Ronald Richter, who left Germany after WW2. On an island opposite Bariloche on lake Nahuel Huapi was the home to the Huemul Project. It was an early 1950s Argentine effort to develop a fusion power. The concept was invented by the Austrian/German scientist, who claimed to have a design that would produce effectively unlimited power. The project failed and scientist are still trying to develop fusion power today.

Other activities a trip around the Circuito Chico in the morning (bus ride) a popular tourist route. This included a chair lift ride up to a viewing point of the lakes in the morning. We got dropped off at Puerto Pañuelo for a boat trip but bit of a muck up got dropped off too early and told not to get on the boat till 2 pm when tickets said 1pm. Once again no Spanish made for some interesting communications. The boat trip took us to the Quetrihue peninsula, where there are some myrtle woods also some large beech forest. The boat trip then took us to the to Victoria Island for a walk. Some quirky things here north American trees planted as a reaforestation project many years ago and some flash abandoned houses (not sure what that was about). A good day out but didn’t get much of the story because all the info was in Spanish.

Also went on a gondola ride was closer to town with a free bus taking us to the start. Pleasantly surprised at the length of the ride and again great views of the mountains, foothills and the lake. There was a bar and we enjoyed a couple of beers after a steep walk up to another viewing place where we were able to look across to 8 people paragliding and again some condors. Included in the building at the top was a little art gallery with Michaël Angelo replicas.

As you can see from the photos a very scenic place to visit we had great weather and a good abnb.