Argentina
November 6-29, 2009
November 19: Valle Encantada: Lago Traful
Here are some quotes from our guide book:
"Lago Traful is a pure, intense blue, like a pool of liquid Roman glass." "one particularly impressive lookout point: [...] this [the Mirador Traful] is a precipitous rock-face that survived the onslaught of the glaciers and presents superb views down its sheer seventy-metre face into the Mediterranean-blue waters below."
Sigh... grey seemed to be the predominant colour, not mediterranean or Roman glass blue!
Lago Traful is a popular destination for fisherment trying to hook trout and the rare landlocked salmon. We did stop at the aforementioned superb lookout and the rock-face was indeed impressive but the view was clouded over and with the cold drizzle we didn't stay long. We continued along the southern shore, through Villa Traful which is just a loose collection of houses spread out along several kilometres of the shoreline.
Once we hit the 7 Lakes route not only was the view terrible, the roads were too and so we headed back to Bariloche without any further stops along the way. Back in Bariloche we did some groceries and headed back to the hotel.
Last view at some interesting rock formations on top of the mountains.
The splashes of yellow flowers next to the road look nice with the contrast of the blue sky.
You can tell these flowers are adapted to dry and windy conditions... they look very desert-like.
It looks like the mountains are waving good-bye to us. :)
The rock formation in the distance looks like a fortress.
As we head closer to the Andes again, the weather becomes nastier.
The road isn't the greatest either!
Some sheep as we pass by Villa Traful.
Arriving at Lago Traful. The lake has a surface area of 75 square kms and is 38 km long.
Not much to see of the famous view... is that a whale across the water there?!
Maybe the view will be better from this lookout...
Well, we could IMAGINE how stunning the view would be in nice weather.
Some massive cliffs along the lakeside.
Samantha at the Lago Traful lookout.
The weather keeps getting worse and worse!
Back to the car...
it's freezing out here!
Pudu? Huemel?! No... just a cow.
No wonder the guidebook warned about road closures in the area during inclement weather!
One of the many police check points. But it's too rainy so they weren't stopping anyone today.
A quick stop at the grocery store before heading back to the hotel.
Hmmmm, could this Tante Frida be some German relations? Maybe we could get some free chocolate...?!
- the end for this day -
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