So we decided that we hadn’t had enough lakes yet, nor enough steak and wine, so we crossed over to Argentina to the largest city in the Argentinian lake district; San Carlos de Bariloche. As with the Chilean side, this area of Argentina was dominated by the Mapuche until the 19th century when the plethora of European immigrants arrived. The Mapuche still live in certain parts of the area, but the European feel is evident.

Bariloche is located on the shores of lake Nahueo Huapi and everywhere you look there are mountains, greenery and more lakes! It’s no wonder National Geographic called it one of the most beautiful views in the world. The houses are mainly made of log and stone giving it a really homey mountain feel and the meat there is absolutely incredible. There is one parrilla that is famous in Argentina for having the best meat in the country and my God it is the best steak I have ever had in my life. It is just unbelievably good. It’s magical. I actually got depressed on my last bite as the realisation set in that I had peaked early on in my life and that it’s all going to be downhill from now on (meatwise at least).

Otherwise we spent most of our time going on mini hikes up some of the many mountains Bariloche and its surroundings have to offer and gawking at its natural beauty. We also enjoyed our last bit of sunshine and beautiful weather as we are moving deep south next and it will be cold as ice in southern Patagonia.

Finally in keeping with our new found tradition of having Asian food for Christmas, we celebrated Serbian Christmas in Bariloche in style with some great company and a mountain of delicious Taiwanese food.