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| With a storm coming the last thing we felt like doing was to stop and take photos or pictures sorry! |
Because of the morning's delays checking out the river rafting took longer than expected so we were only able to make it as far as Villa Santa Lucia, 60 or so kilometres up to the road. At 6pm, with a storm coming and fading light, it didn't seem sensible to push on so we stopped in Santa Lucia where we were fortunate to find open a small shop optimistically labelled supermercardo, the only sign of commerce in operation. We pulled up at the same time as two travelling cyclists who had the sensible idea of asking inside for accommodation.
Without any food to buy we stood very awkwardly in the shop waiting for the couple to make their purchases. After listening to their near fluent Spanish we realised there was no way we could ask the same question right after, so somewhat embaressed we asked for a translation and then proceeded to follow the two to the nearest hospedaje. After Bariloche I had spoken to Reece about wanting to stay in some homestays which I thought would be a good way to improve our Spanish while at the same time meeting some local people. It turns out its the only real means of accommodation in these parts!
I again stood awkwardly behind Stefan and Miriam while the first woman effectively slammed the door in Stefan's face denying the existence of acommodation despite the clear sign to the contrary. He did manage to get directions to another down the road where the answer was the same but the delivery more considerate. Gratefully we were walked to another house across town, during our five minute journey we probably covered the entire town. I was told there was likely to be only one room available and as the person tagging along on this adventure it was not going to be Reece and I who had first pick of the room so I wondered why I was even bothering.
Fortunately there were two rooms in a cosy little house run by a women living alone with her young daughter. It was lovely to share the house but it wasn't exactly the learning experience I had hoped for with another couple to converse with in English, and a translator at hand in front of whom I was too embarassed to even try. I had thought I might practice with the little girl but she was too shy to talk to us (though not too shy to take the biscuits on offer).
We have passed a number of cyclists who we're somewhat in awe of their industrious adventure (which makes ours in comparison seem frankly lazy). Stefan and Miriam were in their fourth month of a 6 month trip which began in Sao Paulo. We were able to ask about the distances they can cover (130kms on a good day meaning no wind, flat roads, pavement); how much luggage they can carry (given there is two of them a lot more than we can) and what we have come to ask everyone - suggestions for cooking on the road (it seems we're resound to eating pasta for the entire trip).
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