Christmas in Bariloche

I spent Christmas here in Bariloche with my friends Carina and Mark and their family and friends. Celebrations here begin on the 24th. We started the day by getting up at 5am to hike up Cerro (Mt) Villegas which is a small mountain behind Mark and Carina´s house. Four adults and one eight year old made it to the top where we were lucky enough to see two condors flying around the mountain. We also had great views of Nauhel Huapi Lake. Bariloche and the surrounding mountains. The weather was perfect with no wind and we were back home in time for lunch.

On the summit of Cerro Villegas. From left to right; Me, Theo, Carina and Mark

There were eleven of us at the house on the 24th as Manuela also joined us in the evening to celebrate Christmas. In Argentina it is the norm to have dinner very late at around 9 or 10pm. Something I still find hard to get used to. On Christmas Eve we ate homemade pizzas at about 10.30pm and were ready to go to bed but we waited up to midnight to open the presents. My present was a Mate (pronounced mah-te) gourd and a metal straw which you use to drink Yerba Mate which is the national drink in Argentina.  It is traditionally drunk with family or friends. Instead of having a cup of coffee or tea you share a mate. The same gourd and straw is passed around everyone and after each person has had a drink it is refilled with hot water from a thermos. Argentinians are so passionate about this drink that you see them carrying around their thermos and mate gourds everywhere.

After having almost a month of very hot perfect weather Christmas day turned out to be very windy and with cooler temperatures. These were not ideal conditions for the traditional Argentine Parrilla (BBQ) Mark and Carina hosted. But undeterred they successfully cooked a whole lamb over a fire  which took about five hours. I was well catered for as I made vegetarian patties and also had BBQ eggplant and cheese - yum! There were sixteen of us at the BBQ and it was a good opportunity to practice my Spanish. Although I did have to take a two hour siesta in the afternoon to recover from the late night before. 

In Argentina Christmas celebrations begin on Christmas Eve. We opened the presents at midnight. From left to right; Manuela, Mark and Emily

 The perfect present to keep both adults and children entertained. This was Mark´s present from his sister.

Traditional Argentine Parilla (BBQ) on Christmas Day. 

Mark and Carina´s family and Mark´s sister´s family giving a performance of E Te Ariki to everyone at the BBQ. They had performed this song earlier in the day at church. Back Row (left to right); Emily, Melissa, Eric and Emma, Carina. Front Row; Mateo, Mark, Elisa, Theo. 

Me drinking Mate

 On December 27 I had to say goodbye and catch the bus back to Santiago to return home. I have really enjoyed my month in Bariloche. Carina and Mark have been amazing and it was fantastic to finally be able to visit them and experience life in Argentina. Mark´s sister´s family from NZ was also visiting at the same time and staying in the house so there were five adults and five children altogether. Yet it all seemed to work as everyone was busy just enjoying being on holiday except for Carina and Mark who still had to work. I was also lucky to meet Manuela who was an excellent companion at the Spanish school and to go hiking with.