April 4,

Up at 0630 – transition day today. We finished packing and left our place at 0740. We arrived at the airport, Jeff turned in our car, and we had to wait for airline people to show up to check in our bags. When that was done, we had to wait ten minutes until 0900 to go through security. But that was a quick turn around. We went to the lounge, and had to wait for more meat and cheese for a sandwich. We have spent quite a bit of time waiting! Humph!

At 1015, we went to our gate, boarded at 1035, and waited some as the rest boarded. Finally, backed up at 1113, only well, 28 minutes late, and took off at 1124. Within no time we were above and looking down on God’s Creations: beautiful, jagged, snow-covered mountains turning into windy glaciers that give way to gray-blue rivers and pristine blue lakes. It’s so rugged and gorgeous! No drink or food service offered on the 1.5 hour flight. As we fly north, the mountains have lesser amounts of snow. We touched down in Bariloche at 1256, were at the gate at 1301, out of plane, and with our luggage by 1325.

Jeff e-hailed a Cabify to our car rental place. It’s outside of the airport, because Jeff got a much better deal to catch our bus to Chile this way. We walked in and finally, got through the paperwork, and got into our car. It’s another Fiat- only difference, it’s a manual. We took route 40 south. Picked up a female hitchhiker for about a three minute lift only to a trail head. We continued on – it’s a beautiful drive with fall foliage, mountains and lake views. Just passed El Hoya, we saw many dying trees from a huge fire that Jeff remembered hearing about. We saw someone walking with a sign that said Alaska. What?? We also saw various bicyclists out for exercise along some stretches.

The route 40 turned out of the mountains and the landscape became very arid with tumbleweed like brush and no trees. Still beautiful, but very different. Then we turned back into the mountains, toward our destination, Esquel. We found our Airbnb place, arriving at 1810, our host was waiting for us. She let us in and showed us about. It’s a large place for a one bedroom home. The ceilings are gorgeous exposed wood. I think our tiny house, in its entirety, would have fit in just the bedroom. We asked for places to eat and she gave one option. When she left we unloaded quickly and went to the recommended place. It was La Pulperia Dun Chiquino. We were seated and scanned a QR code for the menu. I ordered the cheaper Ribeye steak and an Italian Salad. Jeff ordered Locro (Multi-meat Stew). We shared a Seventh Cellar Malbec wine. We were given a plate of bread with two salsas and butter. Then Jeff’s stew came with my salad- sliced tomatoes topped with mozzarella drizzled with basil pesto. Then came my steak on a hot sizzling iron plate. It was massive…seemed like a quarter of a cow!!! It wasn’t but it was very grande! We took turns sharing, by us changing seats. We ended up taking ⅓ of the ribeye, and the Italian salad home. Jeff’s Locro was not as good as we had in southern Patagonia, but it was hearty. We paid 100,800 ARS, or $72.54.

When we finished we went to the grocery store for stuff for tomorrow – with it being Easter – we didn’t know what would be open. Back at our place we did a video with my mother and then called in a day.