Fitting in, Finding your purpose and Bariloche!!

So I will be honest and put this out here.. fitting in is hard.. finding a purpose is even harder and so far I have not done a good job of either.. Being in a foreign country for the first time has definitely opened my eyes to how much Texas was 'home' for me.  When we lived there I never felt truly at home but I guess I felt a sense of purpose and I fit in fine.. here.. not so much.. funny how life constantly changes your view...

with that said... we went to Bariloche this past weekend as it was a holiday here in Argentina (don't ask me what holiday.. some random made up holiday to boost travel and the economy....  )..

so let me say this.. if I were ever given the opportunity to visit Bariloche again .. I WOULD.. even if we were living in a different country.. Bariloche blew me away!!!  The beauty that it holds is beyond anything I have witnessed.. just incredible!!!  It shares the Andes Mountains with Chile and it just beautiful.. the views are insane!! 

our hotel 'room' which by luck of arriving at 4:30 AM after a 5 1/2 hour delay, was actually a 4 bedroom house made for 10 people.. it was incredible.. and the original home on the property before it became a hotel..

 

we took a ski lift up Cerro Campanario and the views!!!  incredible..

 

So Bariloche is know for its chocolate shops.... all of which just smell like heaven!!  because Easter is soon they were brightly decorated.. this was our favorite 'egg'..

 

this was a close second!! 

 

CREPES... which were heavenly.. can't get those too often here.. something different!! 

 

While this was not our favorite chocolate shop.. this egg has to be 3 feet tall and over 200 lbs.. we took this picture while yelling 'cora don't touch the egg!!'

 sorry.. these pants.. are the rage here in Argentina.. I don't get it.. at all..

so after many stops for chocolate.. we had to taste test them all... box on the far right.. totally the winner!!!

Trout Fishing.. always better with a dog who loves to fish!!! 

just another beautiful view from the lake.. the lake was so crystal clear!! 

 



Juan our trusty fishing guide said we might not catch any trout as this is sort of the down season for them.. thankfully we caught 4!!!  this one was trying to eat Cora!!

 

but don't worry.. we ate it first!!  great bbq on the beach

 



 

so this is sort of how Cora and I felt when we were told we were going 'white water rafting'.. just saying..

 

but again the views are so worth it.. the Andes are incredible.. some mountains had small glaciers you could see clearly and some had ash left on them from a volcano that erupted in Chile 3 years ago..

 

my new favorite photo...

 

Cora was the only brave one to get into the 'jacuzzi' along the way on our rafting trip.. it was COLD water.. right after this picture was taken we went along.. hit some really good rapids and she promptly feel over the side of the boat... thankful for my husband and the other man in the boat who did everything needed to get her back into the boat with minimal tears!!!!

again.. the water is so clear.. you can see at least 70 feet to the bottom.. and drink the water.. straight from your hard hat!!

we all survived!!!!  whew..

sometimes you go to the beach.. and you learn things...

So we went to Carilo which is a tiny beach town on the coast of Argentina.. about 4 1/2 hours away from our home (yes.. 4 1/2 hours.. not the 'about 3' I was told ).. and when you stop for dinner and such it is so much longer of a drive.. but I digress.....

 

So you go to the beach and you realize things....

 you realize that the '4 1/2 ' hour drive was worth it and even though you only have 5 hours of sleep or so under your belt.. this is going to be a great day! 


you realize that despite you best efforts you child is continually growing and changing and becoming this mini tween and you can't stop it.. and she is beautiful and you are in admiration of how she stays in the water for hours riding the waves with no fear... and you instantly feel old.. and a bit teary


 you totally know that while corn is awesome as a beach treat, your kids are the gentle reminders that nothing is really as good as when we went to the beach with Michelle and we had tamales with Tyler, Lindsey, Christina and that tall boy on the beach.. LOL.. #truth


you realize your are glad this child still loves just building in the sand:)


 again.. you realize you are old and this kid is blowing you away..

you realize that here in Argentina they love their cheese and salami... LOVE.. on our drive we saw no less thank 50 stands like this on the side of the road... some open as late at 1 am!!! 

you also realize that if it wasn't told to you where this was.. this totally could be Kansas

or Arkansas

Or Texas

 

Or Indiana

 

Or New Jersey....  all they need are some tomatoes....