So we got to Bariloche fine after a really nice 18 hour bus journey, watching loads of very recent films and drinking mate!! Also found that one of my students from Master who we have been out with was on the same bus going home for the hols. He`s great, 20 years old and very friendly, so we all chatted a lot. Anyway, more importantly we are all finally travelling and it feels fantastic. Complete freedom, and LOADS of fun!! Bariloche is possibly the most stunning place I`ve seen, at least for a long time anyway. It`s surrounded by beautiful picture perfect lakes and snow-topped mountains. Everywhere is also really green, so I love it. The town is small but is doing us fine as it`s famous for it`s incredible chocolate!

All 15 of us are here together for the first time since the very beginning, and it`s been wicked fun! The cheap hotel is warm and friendly, and they serve us hot chocolate and croissants in the morning. So far we have been on two excursions all together- one took us on a short boat trip on one of the lakes, which was breathtaking, surrounded by mountains which were reflected on the perfectly calm lake. We then went up to see a "black" glacier, which was actually just dirty, and I found it really interesting hearing all the geography stuff. The second expedition, amazing value, was packed full of spectacular views and action adventure! We went in a huge group in two 4-wheel drive monster trucks (can`t think of a better way to describe them) and were taken to a waterfall in the forest, to see various lakes ("gutierrez" and "Moreno"), up to the highest mountain into the snow, where we had tea in a revolving restaurant and walked miles in the middle of a mini snow storm! We stopped for lunch in a special feria artesenal, where they were cooking a giant barbeque underground for about 100 people, and tried some of the local meat and cakes. Delicious but freezing eating outside! Finally one of the best bits of the day was being allowed to sit on the roof of the 4-wheel drive buggies and be taken on a rough ride through the wilderness, hanging on for dear life whilst laughing ´til our tummies hurt! Really amazing day. All this was done while we were trying to survive apalling hangovers from the night before, when we tried out a local nightclub. It was Emmas 20th birthday so we had a BIG night out with champagne and dancing in a swanky (but scarily expensive) boliche. Lots of v amusing memories from that night!!