Argentina

November 6-29, 2009

November 18: Campanario, Curanto and Colonia Suiza

This morning it was cloudy but we could still see the mountains so we stuck with our plan and headed for the chairlift at the Campanario mountain. Rubby's back was still sore so we let Christopher walk instead of putting him in the carrier. The lift ride was 30 pesos per adult... everything seems to cost 10$ around here!

On the way up they had signs marking the different types of trees. At the top we were treated to a wonderful panoramic view of the Bariloche region. Too bad we didn't have blue skies.

At 11am we made it to Colonia Suiza, a little historic settlement akin to a "Little Switzerland". The goal of the day was to experience "curanto", a chilean way of cooking seafood adapted to Argentine meats. We had arrived early for the "ceremonial lighting of the fire" which ended up being a little less than ceremonial as the guy poured starter fluid all around the firepit and set it aflame.

Basically a pit is dug in sand and logs are piled with large round stones on top. As the wood burns the hot rocks drop into the pit. Once hot enough all the remaining wood is removed and branches of leaveds are placed to cover the logs. The the food is placed on the leaves - sausages, chicken, beef, pork, potatos, sweet potatos, onions, carrots, apples and pumpkins filled with a veggie stew mix. More leaves are placed over the food and burlap is used to cover everything. Finally sand is shovelled on top and the entire thing is left to cook for an hour and a half.

While the food was cooking we walked to the little craft market where we had some "tortas fritas rellenas con dulce de leche"... fried dough filled with dulce de leche. Unfortunately Christopher was missing his nap and had a bit of a fit at the market... oh well, more tortas fritas for the rest of us! While they were being made, someone asked Rubby where we had bought the kid carrier - we should import some and sell them!

At the market there was also a curanto and as the food was about to be uncovered, we remembered we had to hurry back to see ours which seemed to be a little more authentic and more done for locals. We got back just in time and the kids were just as delighted as the adults to see the food. Once uncovered, the food was brought inside where we were treated to live music and the food was brought out one course at a time. The kids actually ate quite a bit and other than being somewhat fidgety, Christopher cooperated for the fairly late and lengthy lunch. He even enjoyed clapping along to the music!

When we finally left it was past 4pm and much more cloudy and cold so we decided to just finish the Circuito chico driving tour, do some groceries and head back to the hotel. The kids watched some TV and had boiled egges and oranges for supper and we were all off for an early bed time.

the photos: