Stupid Is Expensive ... And Combat Walking Isn't Easy ... !

You learn a lot by traveling.  Life lessons - hard to come by in other situations - become quite clear when you're far from home.

We went shopping the other day.  When we got here to Bariloche, Argentina, we found it much warmer than elsewhere on our trip.
I suddenly realized I had not packed any shorts (hey, when it's snowing at home, you don't think about packing for hot weather).  

So we set out to buy some shorts, only they're in short supply here!  Ha! (bada boom! couldn't resist) They're also pretty expensive here.  Actually Argentina in general is more expensive than we expected.  
Anyway, we were walking down the main high street shopping arcade and finally found a store with some shorts that fit for a "reasonable" price. 

Later ... meaning today, we were walking in a different part of town, where normal people live, and saw the same shorts for half the price.  What?

So when you shop in the tourist area, they mark up the price, eh?  Big surprise.  I guess in my mind they are thinking:  "If you're stupid enough to buy clothes here, we're gonna charge you more money"

This caused me to reflect ...

Stupid can be expensive.  We're not talking about a lot of money, but if you're gonna be dumb, you have to pay a "stupidness" premium.  Lesson learned.  

Another lesson - it pays to be smart.  Having at least half-a-brain is an economic benefit.  I hereby solemnly pledge to keep that in mind.  These are not just lessons for travel, it applies to all areas of life.  

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Another interesting and somewhat dangerous experience here is the combat walking that takes place everyday on the streets.  

Since we've been in Argentina on-and-off for about half the trip so far, we are used to the drivers.  They are crazy.  Especially when you're trying to cross the street.  
Even at a marked cross walk, they don't slow down, in fact, I swear they speed up!  If you wait for cars to stop for you at a crosswalk, you will die of old age.  

You really have to watch out - and often run for your lives!  Nasty drivers!

Not only that, but the sidewalks?  They are really bad too!  Terrible!  If you don't watch we're you're going, you will fall, guaranteed. The sidewalks are very uneven, with big holes and super inconsistent surfaces.  

Don't be gawking up at the sights or you'll stumble and do a face plant.  Stumbling and tumbling on the sidewalk is not good for your dignity ...

So walking down the street here is anything but comfortable and relaxing, it's more like a combat zone. 

To the jury, I submit the following evidence:  You be the judge.  It's worse than than the pictures convey, at certain points, it's hideous.  At one point I went so far as to suggest the local hospital goes around and breaks up the sidewalks every night to ensure a steady stream of customers.  

Okay, so I did take these pictures - in the interest of journalistic excellence, or blogging realism - and Fiona thinks I'm kind of a moron.  Who, in their right mind, takes pictures of sidewalks?  In public? Umm, didn't we just talk about that brain stuff above?  


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Now let's get to some real travel highlights.   

We went on a boat excursion on the big Lago Argentina here, which included a really nice hike through the woods.  

It was a great day, sunny, warm, clear, and no wind (wind has been a constant companion for the last couple weeks).  We rode out to a major arm of the lake that comes right up to the border with Chile. This is still considered part of Patagonia here.  

We moored at a spot on the shore which connected to a really nice trail up to a series of waterfalls and cascades that lead down from another elevated lake.  

Then upon descending, there was another longer trail along the shore that made it's way through some glorious forest and lakeshore.  It was awesome.  

We completed the trail and had a nice lunch at the boat harbor on the other side of the bay.

We returned to Bariloche and today enjoyed the ultimate in Argentine cuisine, the big steak meal with wine.  The picture below shows the restaurant with simple but elegant colors and lighting.  It was special.

And the meal was exquisite.  Juicy beef sausage, with thick steaks and Argentine Malbec wine.   
Sublime.

But later this afternoon the weather changed, and the rain came.  A bit like Oregon, things can change in a hurry.  

Tomorrow we cross over back into Chile, with another journey across the Andes. 

My final attempt at humor:
Warm today ... Chile tomorrow!