Thank you Bariloche! We couldn´t have asked for a better place to start our Argentina adventure. When we first planned this trip, we wanted to combine two of our favorite things: outdoor activities and a vibrant cosmopolitan city life. This is how we decided on Bariloche and Buenos Aires.
Aside from all the amazing hikes and the great food we had in Bariloche, here are a few of the major takeaways from the last 4.5 days....
Smile at Work???
After we did the hike up Lopez Peak, our clothes were filthy. We took our laundry to a laundrymat that washes/dries your clothes in a few hours. They charged us $4/load so it's a steal! When we went to pick up our clothes, we thanked the clerk that did our laundry for us. She was so appreciative and had the biggest smile on her face. Steve and I were happy campers because all our clothes were clean but the enthusiasm and smile this clerk had for us was indescribable. I really don´t think it had anything to do with me and Steve. I think she just enjoys what she does because I saw the same smile and perkiness when she was handling other customer transactions at the store. It just made me think, ¨Do I have the same gusto for my job? Do I do my job with a big smile on my face and with the same skip in my step?" Well, I should. I have a great boss who teaches me something valuable everyday. I have the job that I always wanted - a position where I can teach and develop sales reps. At the same time, I learn just as much from them. I´m also challenged by the obstacles we face everyday in the marketplace - so I continuosly grow and learn from these challenges. On top of it all, I have the flexibility to work from home, anywhere in the US, with great pay and benefits. I think I have a lot to be smiling about. It´s too bad I sometimes get bogged down with the minor issues (aka my annoying reps) that drive me crazy. There is no perfect job out there and based on what I listed, this is close to perfect for me and my expectations. If the girl at the laundrymat can be skipping for joy at her job, why can´t I? Seeing her really made me evaluate how good I have things and put a big smile on my face.
This is the Life!
Speaking of being grateful and appreciative....Steve and I were having dinner on the patio of our house in Bariloche. We had great steaks, fresh vegetables, wonderful wine and the most unbelievable setting. We were eating at the traditional Argentina dinner time: 11 PM. As I was eating my dinner, I looked up in the sky and saw a bunch of stars shining. Then I looked to the left and I saw the moon in the background right behind the Andes Mountains. On our left, we have the cutest house that we rented which is a mini Paradise (pics to come!). I sat there thinking, "This is the life!" This is what I love the most about traveling. I love being inspired and energized by new surroundings. We are fortunate to have everything accessible to us in the States but sometimes I get caught up in the hustle and the daily grind of my normal responsibilities that I forget to take time out of my life and create these special moments. I shouldn´t have to travel to another continent to experience this. I can create this in my own home (minus the Andes Mtns).
Charming City
We can´t say enough about this great city. Bariloche offers so many great activities: skiing, hiking, swimming, spas, boating, biking, shopping, fine dining, sight seeing, and above all great people. You walk around town and you feel like you are at home. Bariloche is also the home of the best chocolate in South America --- you literally see 3 to 5 chocolate shops on every block. Shawna, are you booking your flight right now? So quick food recap.... there are hundreds of steak restaurants, chocolate shops, bakeries, and wineries in Argentina. Why w0uld anyone leave here?
Traveling with Steve
Most of you know that my blog title is Traveling with Nancy because I started this when I quit my job in 2008 to travel. Well, I definitely want to note that this trip has been great spending it with Steve. I love sharing all these neat experiences with him. I get excited thinking about the future trips we plan to take. He´s a great boyfriend and a great traveling companion. I know I can be a pill at times but he´s good about going with the flow :) Aside from enjoying his company, here´s another great thing about travling with Steve..... We wear the same size shoes and same size clothes! This came in handy because I didn´t pack hiking boots or enough long sleeved layers to go up the snowy trails. This was a tough trip to pack for because we had to pack for 3 different temperature ranges: 80s, 60s, 40s. I packed well for the 80 degrees and 60 degrees but not so much for the 40 degrees. I purposely didn´t pack my hiking boots because they are so big so I figured I would use my running shoes for running, walking, and hiking during the trip. Besides, I would rather pack an extra pair of heels instead of my boots. Nina Garcia would understand. Well, Steve let me wear his outdoor shoes (looks like running shoes but sole can handle rough terrains) because he brought his own hiking boots. Perfect - we´re the same size! Then he let me borrow several of his dry fit long sleeve shirts to layer up for the cooler hikes. Once again perfet - we´re the same size! Glad Ranger Steve packed for me and for him :)
We arrived in Buenos Aires a little after midnight. We are excited to experience the city life here this week. You know where my focus is - food and shopping. Plus, I´m thrilled that the temperature is in the 80s here. Time to put our hiking gear away....it´s time for heels and flip flops!
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