No golf, fútbol.

Erin again:

We left Pbub happily in the kids lounge with an employee from the rec center. Steve and I proceeded to "hike." After walking along the main road with 7 other people, we went behind the golf course and found the trial that was overgrown, because technically, it is barely spring.

After an adventure that culminated in our finding a treehouse...as you can see above, Steve was looking for another trail when my Argentine cell rang. It was the babysitter and she said that Paco had been crying. I met them on the golf course and let me just say, Paco had not been crying much. His cheeks were pink and his eyes dry! Oh well. Afterwards, we played soccer in a nearby field and later the boys went swimming before we met for tea in the "winter garden." The Llao Llao has incredible service except in this area. It was an hour of asking for things 2 or 3 times, them telling Steve they had no room when Steve had already made a reservation for the concierge, it was all very weird.

(Steve now) I had heard from two random people who have been here before about the wonderful afternoon tea at the Llao Llao, so this was on my list of to-dos while here. I think the service issues are related to the fact that if one isn't a guest at the hotel, they don't let you into tea without a reservation. For some reason, despite having arranged it with the concierge upon our arrival and my talking to the host at the tea area, he didn't realize that we were registered guests... go figure. In any case, the view was incomparable, the tea was, well, tea, in typical Argentine style the pastries were scrumptious, but the service was anomalously horrendous. For all the hassle they gave me getting in, there were many empty tables the entire time we were there.

(Back to Erin) Then during naptime, Steve took the laptop to the lobby bar, which looked awesome, but was not really Paco friendly, and I read to Paco The Little Prince in Spanish. Paco listened patiently to my struggling and mis-pronounciation. As many things that drive me crazy about our little traveler, his patience with my Spanish really warms my heart.

Before dinner, we took a photo outside with the horizon of Bariloche. However the clouds were coming in and this is the best we could do. Still. A pretty awesome scene.

Para la cena (for dinner) we went to the Patagonian Cafe , from where we had received food circus the night before. It was lovely. Paco ate bow-tie pasta with zucchini on the side and proceeded to steal all the cucumber and avocado from my salad. Steve had trucha, or trout again, but this time it was a steak. And mine was one of the best meals I have eaten in ages: angolotti with trucha and a saffron sauce. Unbelievable. The staff at the cafe was attentive and wonderful.

This morning, our trucha theme continued. The buffet has both an omelet with fresh trout and a casole with trout and salmon. The pastries (fracturas) were amazing. Filled with dulce de leche, quince, chocolate, ricotta and orange. I am sure there were more, but I cannot remember them all.

After packing and choosing which overpriced souvenirs to buy, we went to the pool and here are the boys swimming while I drink cafe and write this.

The Llao Llao was just the oasis we needed to restart before another week of Spanish immersion. I think it would be ideal to spend 4 nights here. A day to relax, a day for activities and a day to do both. But I will take the 2 full nights we had. Daniel, from Bariloche noticed that I took off my shoes and socks and brought me some slippers. The boys have just come out of the pool and we are eating our snack before resuming our swim. The taxi comes about 3 and we will meet our house mother, Gisela.

My father-in-law has spoken of this place since I have known him, with an Avalon-like description. Every time we traveled together, he would say, beautiful, but it is no Bariloche. I have never been to the Swiss Alps, but at this point in my life, I would have to agree. It is something fantastic. Though for me, I am unsure if it is the scenery, or the resort or the Argentine hospitality that has won my heart. But any one of the 3 is enough to ensure my dream of returning...for 4 days.