Nahuel Huapi - Gesundheit

There are benefits to working overseas. We get to celebrate (read: take the day off) both U.S. and local holidays. As the rest of the U.S. was planning their barbeques and three-day weekends, we’re left wondering what would have been since we don’t have a car. Every time a holiday comes around (we had an Argentine holiday in August, then Labor Day), we discuss what we could do… we think it would be awesome… then feel sorry for ourselves that there is no way we can do it since we’d be getting two taxis to get out of town, which is just more hassle than its worth since we know our car will come and we can just do those things later.

Labor Day was one of those days where we thought we’d do something great and then realized we couldn’t go anywhere. HOWEVER, it was not a holiday for Lily and Claire so they were going to be off at school. We got very excited about a morning with only two children and thought we were in good shape. While everyone was situation normal Sunday night, Lily woke up with pinkeye. So much for our leisurely Monday morning without the two older kids. We now know where the pediatrician is, how the finances work, and a bunch of other stuff we hoped we wouldn’t have to find out. At least we got to double up on the appointment and got Caroline current on all of her immunizations. Did I mention we’re still without a car? The holiday was anything but. Lily ended up home from school for two days and we’re very lucky that none of the other kids got it.

Since we have always been left wanting when it comes to planning vacations, we decided to look ahead and we have been in discussions with two other families down here about a thanksgiving getaway. It’s a good time to travel down here because it’s before the masses get out of school for summer break (remember, southern hemisphere), yet the American school gets two days off for the turkey day. So we beat the summer rush, don't miss much school, and can enjoy a holiday with family. Our Mouritsen Family Fun List (the list created every place we move to insure we get out on long weekends to see what the world has to offer) is pretty heavy this move so we thought we'd get to one of our destinations for Thanksgiving. The farther option is called Puerto Madryn where some whales have their annual get together, and the closer option is a forest locale on the beach called Carilo. 12 hours vs. 3 hours with all those kids. We would love to do Puerto Madryn and will, but it looks like Carilo this year. We're working out the details and are very excited. We'll keep you posted... um, or I will.

I have made a personal goal to try and reach all 23 provinces and 1 autonomous city during our stay in Argentina to say that I really saw the country. From my mission, I had already knocked out the autonomous city of Buenos Aires (think Washington DC, but I don't think they have that whole "taxation without representation" beef... even though they have every other kind of beef... top 5 exporter in the world, you know) and the Province of Buenos Aires. I have now also checked off Misiones, Neuquen, and Rio Negro. 19 Provinces to go. I was able to take a trip to Rio Negro which is home to a beautiful lakefront ski town called Bariloche. As the central plains of Argentina head towards the Andes mountain range, Bariloche sits on the banks of the Nahuel Huapi lake inside of Nahuel Huapi National Park and a northern city in Argentina's vast Patagonia. The picture below was taken from the top of Cerro Campanario just west of the city of Bariloche. The islands in the lake, as well as the snow-capped mountains made for yet another picture that doesn't do the real thing justice. Also keep in mind that the picture was taken with my 2 megapixel camera on my phone... so if it looks that good on a nothing camera, imagine what it really looks like.

The picture below is taken from a monument on the side of the rode from inside the province of Neuquen looking back across the vast Lake Nahuel Huapi towards the Andes (to the west).

Bariloche and Patagonia are oft-mentioned destinations for travelers to Argentina, as well as Misiones (see the movie The Mission with Robert DeNiro? Parts filmed in Misiones at Iguazu Falls). Just keep in mind that if/when you come to visit, they are not in driving distance of Buenos Aires.