I’m not going to lie.  When Jackie. Jamie and Carly left I was pretty bummed.  Sure, I set out on the trip knowing that I would be traveling alone for many parts of it but by that point I had gotten spoiled.  For the past 5 weeks I had not been alone.  I was first with my parents in Italy then my friends in Argentina.

There are definite pros and cons to traveling by myself.  Traveling alone means doing whatever I want, whenever I want.  But it also means being solely responsible for planning everything and making all the decisions.  Even the small things can seem more tedious when on my own.  If I am at a random bus/train station alone there is no one to look after my things.  Can anyone watch my luggage while this lady runs to the loo? Anyone? Anyone? Instead I have to drag the thing in the stall with me.  Things can just be easier in a group or with a travel partner.

However, when I am alone I am often more reflective.  More time to think, process and daydream.  Less talking, more thinking.  But being in a group can be more lively.  Experiencing events with friends gives me the ability to recount those memories days, weeks, months, years later.  Other perspectives influence my own thoughts on the same situation.

I spent a couple of more days in Puerto Madryn then took an 12 hour overnight bus to Bariloche.  The bus ride was quite comfortable with reclining chairs, but the food left something to be desired.

San Carlos de Bariloche is a little town located at the foothills on the Andes by the Nahuel Huapi Lake.  This region is considered Argentina’s lake district with many tourists taking boats to cross over in Chile.  The town has a Swiss Alps feel to it.  There are tons of delicious chocolate shops all over the place and the streets are lined with quaint stores.

On the first day I took a boat trip to Victoria Island. I met other solo travelers along the way.  We fed seagulls, hike the island and ate way too many dulce de leche treats.

 

On day two I took a bus about 18km outside of the town to a place called Cerro Campanario.  I rode a chair lift to the top of the mountain where there is a panoramic view of the 7 lakes and mountains. I loved San Carlos de Bariloche and would recommend it to anyone visiting Patagonia.  It was a perfect little town.