Based on our original plans, today we would be lying at the beach in Viñas del Mar, Chile. Instead, because of the forced change of plans, we are discovering areas of Argentina that few tourists ever see. We have spent two days in the small town of Barreal, away from the beaten path. Barreal is a real country town, its stores and facilities are very basic, its streets are mostly unpaved and dusty, there are probably more horses than people.
Most homes are very modest, made of adobe. People are not out to impress, but they are most kind, and thrilled when they see someone speaking with a foreign accent.
A fruits and vegetable store
Our lodging is in a “casa de campo”, a farm house, actually quite pleasant.
The other two couples making up the entire guest list, are very nice and interesting to speak with. One couple is from Buenos Aires and they have invited us out to dinner when we get back to Buenos Aires.
This is sunbaked country, but wouldn’t you know it, yesterday and today it poured, and hailed chickpea-sized rocks of ice. The sky, before and after the storm, was worth the trip here alone. Neither Diane nor I have ever seen anything like it. Sunshine, dark clouds, rainbow, lightning, all at the same time. Each corner of the sky was different and amazing, with the backdrop of very tall mountains.
The drive here was along a wide valley, with the Andes to our left and lower mountains to the right.
Today we ventured north of here, a short drive, where we discovered a magnificent canyon where we hiked, before the threatening clouds implied we should turn back. The canyon is called Mountain of Seven Colors. It was breathtaking, though you can hardly tell by these photos taken shortly after high noon.
A sand twister
Our family pile. One rock for each Rizzotti in the household.
We hope you are still enjoying our trip. We sure are, and perhaps it was good we had to miss Chile, as we finally have some time to relax, and this place is the perfect location to do so.
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