aideenandeoin

lakes, pink noses and sore bums

Hello there,
apologies for our absence from the world of e mail. Since last we met we have been travelling through the Argentinian lake district. First couple of stops in damp rainy towns with squillions of American tour buses from the huge cruise ships that dock there. The most amusing bit was accomodation, being ushered off the streets from 1 sister to another in the hopes that someone in the family could accomodate us, to staying with ´Don Raul', with his extensive knowledge and fondness for wood burning stoves. As you can imagine it wasn't long before Eoin had his head in the fire trying to make it bigger, which was met with horror and further explanations of the benefits of keeping your house damp and cold! Good for my spanish! From there we did a combination boat, bus 12 hour trip through the Chilean and Argentinian lakes, which was pretty cool and then arrived at our current base Bariloche. A hive of activity and very popular with South Americans as a holiday destination. It is very beautiful, a town on the side of a huge lake with loads of mountains all around. We arrived just in time for the Paddy's Day celebrations in a cleverly named 'Wilkennys'. We celebrated with a suitably multi-national crew. At the time we thought, wow he Argentinians really know how to celebrate St Paddy's Day but we have since discovered this was just a normal night out for them!The funniest moment was when an Irish guy grabbed the mike off the band and started singing Molly Malone. About 3 of us joined in when he forgot the words, but the dancing public were generally un-impressed with this display of Oirishness and were much happier when the band big-upped St Páddy with a Ricky Martin rendition!
You'll be amazed to know that we ran away from all the big night out action the next day and retreated to a hostel in the mountains. As we drove up there was a girl doing running stretches in the grass outside, which Eoin mistook for yoga. When we went in a Eoin smelt incense he started to panic that we would be meditiating for the next few days!!! Luckily twas not the case, they even had satellite so that we could watch the rugby!! It was great, we met some great people and have been on a 2 day trek in the mountains, staying in a refugio, and went on a 60 km bike ride yesterday (sore bums)around the lakes. Still having an amzing time, ,meeting great people, igonoring the annoying ones and improving the old spanish daily.
Eoin is still on the quest for the biggest steak. His previous plan was to learn the words for the different meats but he has now decided to use photos of previously slain beasts and has mastered vocab for 'bigger'
Weather is pretty up and down, we have aquired bits of wind and sunburn and a few new freckles, and Eoin has acquired a Gerry Adams beard. I am currently trying to convince him of the merits of trimming his moustache so that he doesn't find his moustache interferes with enjoyment of eating his steak!
Hope you're all well and happy. We're heading off tonight on a night bus to the coast. Apparently the seats recline fully back into beds and you get wine and food, all for a mere 15 of your finest English pounds!

Lots of love

posted by eoino @ 6:28 AM