19/04/2013

El Bolsón

Trekking is really one of my favorite things to do and El Bolsón has numerous beautiful places to be discovered by foot. Our little group from yesterday and Anja of course decide on Piltriquitron (Mapuche for hanging on the clouds). On our way to this majestic mountaintop we visit the Bosque Tallado, featuring statues carved out in dead wood by local artists. Beautiful isn’t it? The climb is steep and dangerous at times. We slide on all the little rocks and have to use our hands not to fall down. It is well worth the effort though; the view from the top is incredible, see for yourself.
After this adventure we deserve an icecream. Jauja has the biggest assortment I have ever seen. We share one kilo between 4 people, half of it is chocolate profundo, the “bestest” chocolate icecream in the world!!! Other days go by walking around in town. El Bolson is a real hippie town with artists and alternative people everywhere. Four times a week, around the little lake in the center is the Feria artesanal. Here, you can find food, liquors, mate’s, clothes, and many more handmade items.


I am waiting for an answer from host farms in the area where I want to do two weeks of woofing. In the meantime I might as well do some more trekking. Remember Janet from the hotel in London? Well, she is here too, waiting for the same thing as I am. We spend two wonderful days together hiking in the area. Before setting off on our first trek I move to Jorge’s place, a couchsurfer, and his 4-year old daughter, Angeles. We spend two wonderful evenings together exchanging music, sharing food and of course drinking mate.

The first trek is the one of Encanto Blanco. It takes us through the forest and over wooden bridges to the cutest little refugio I have ever seen. Everything is in wood and there is a dog there with one brown eye and one blue eye…We eat our lunch here and return to la Tilleria to take the taxi back to El Bolsón. While we are waiting we witness the cutting up of a cow that has been slaughtered. The whole family participates, even the cats and dogs, licking the blood. Somehow it doesn’t seem totally disgusting, even for a vegetarian like me. This meat will feed the household during the long winter months and every body part will be used for something.


Our second trek goes to Cajón del Azul. The setting is different from yesterday. Rio azul is really blue, or I would say turquoise. Some men are fishing and give Janet 3 of their fishes. At the refugio there are many kittens, running around everywhere. You can imagine their joy when Janet gives them a fish to chew on. After these two days I have received an answer from one of the woofing places. Vero and Lali are really happy that I want to come to help them and they are expecting me the next day!

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