After our hike in Nahuel Huapi Lake, and Steve’s first trolling session was over Nico dropped the anchor and the portable table was brought out so we could enjoy our tapas and wines. 
Paulo covered the table with a fun red and white checked picnic cloth and brought out the silverware and glasses. No plastic cups and paper plates today! This was going to be special! First tapas was a gazpacho shooter with a little olive oil, paired a roasted pepper topped with micro greens and a little bit of toasted bread. This was paired with a lovely sauvignon blanc. 
Next up was some smoked salmon, with micro greens, itty bitty flower heads, sliced onions, lemon juice, raspberries, mini scoops of avocado and soy sauce with sesame sides to dip the salmon. The salty with the sweet was so good! I was watching Paulo do all the prep work, he took such care in placing everything just so, no slap dash with his actions!
Next was a ramekin filled with toasted bread, sautéed mushrooms, a poached egg, blueberries, and then cheese melted with a mini torch. I joked to Paulo that I didn’t think open flames were allowed on a boat!
A nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon was brought out at some time and we drank the red wine also.
Dessert was slightly charred pineapple, blueberries, raspberries and some slightly sweetened with cream. We enjoyed this with a really nice port. Yes, a lot of drinking went on that afternoon!
Final course was cheese drizzled with balsamic vinegar.
We were both feeling totally relaxed and happy.
We lifted anchor, the fishing rod was brought back out for Steve to troll a bit more as we cruised back to port.
This is the little area where Paulo performed his magic! I am sure he did lots of prep work back home too!
I put my feet up, relaxed and learned about what was next in store on Linda’s Excellent Adventures!
On the way back we saw a kayakers, and people canoeing. They waved and looked like they were having fun, but I know they wished they were relaxing on the boat like we were!
All too soon we were back at the pier, our cruise on Nahuel Huapi Lake was over. 
This is me with Paulo, and Nico! Paulo had his supplies all piled up to bring back to his house!
Steve looked just as happy, but Paulo looked just a little bit happier hugging me!
Our taxi arrived and brought us back to the hotel.
Ciao! Ciao!
This is the brochure for Nico’s boat. 
The boat was very comfortable, there was a canopy so we wouldn’t get too much sun, and a cabin with a place to go to the bathroom. 
We departed from the dock at Manzano, and were going to cruise to Bosque de Arrayanes for a short hike. Here we are all cozy on the boat, ready to take off. I am swearing Steve’s Tilley hat. 
Although much of the lake was protected as a National Park, there were lots of lodging places near this part of the lake. We were not far from the ski area, Cerro Bayo. This place was a great place to vacation. Summer activities in the summer, and skiing in the winter. Nico said that he gave cruises in the winter also! 
This map without the fingers gives you a better idea how big the lake is. That is still not all of the lake!
There were beautiful vistas everywhere you looked. More of Paulo’s tattoos. No, I did not ask him how many he had!
We arrived at the dock for our hike and Nico secured the boat. Paulo was going to stay aboard the boat. 
It was around 11:00, no one else was in the park. It often gets very busy later in the afternoon with tour boats laden with guests who want to explore.
Let’s prove that we were here!
These trees are called Arrayans. Some were really tall!
They have a smooth bark, that is very cold to the touch. The bark looks a little scaly, but it was not very rough. Some of these trees are 300-600 years old!
Don’t we make a cute couple? The answer is yes!
Nico is trying to tell us something here. There was so much to remember!
We saw some lovely fuchsia. 
More pretty flowers.
Steve is demonstrating how big this tree is! 
Some of the trees had a type of fungus near the top. 
Nico told us that Walt Disney came here, and was inspired to make the movie Bambi. I will have to go home and watch the movie to see if their are any similarities. 
Eventually the cruise boats always show up! 
Our walk is over and we head back to the boat to rescue our cruise. Our walk was the small circle. Ambitious hikers could walk all the way to Villa La Angostura. No thank you!
Nico asks Steve if he would like to troll for fish while Paulo prepares our tapas.
Of course! Steve settles down and assumes the trolling position. There is not much work to do when you troll, you just hold onto the rod and wait for a fish to take the lure. 
We go by some very interesting rocks. The area looks very much like Lake George. Steve gets to sit with me, enjoy the view and troll for fish. What could be better than this?
We woke up and looked outside our Juliet balcony, ready to start our day.
We descended the stairs to the main level to see the breakfast buffet. The sun was so strong, it was difficult to take a good picture. No worries for me, my picture taking ability is not the main draw of my blog’s dear readers!
Steve spied a table by the windows, and we sat there. 
Here Steve is, ready to give our order for breakfast!
Here is where the orange juice, coffee, hot milk and water waited for our selection.
The silverware was very dainty. 
Steve and I each ordered scrambled eggs. I got one, and Steve got two.
Here are some of the shops in town, and the roses in the median of the road.
We say goodbye to our taxi driver and are off to the pier. 
Nico’s boat is the Cardinal Sur. We climb aboard the boat and are ready to take off!
I thought I had a picture of Steve at the front door of the hotel, and here it is!
This is a picture from the hotel web site. You can tell by now, which photos are mine, and which are the photos from the professionals! The lighting and angles are so much better!
Here is a relieved Steve outside the restaurant! We were deliriously happy. 
Here is Steve inside the restaurant. You can tell who is taking all the pictures. It’s not that I don’t like to have my picture taken, it’s just that I like to take many pictures. Do you know that I have 19.890 pictures on my iPhone? I need to do some serious editing!
The restaurant had a lovely view of Nahuel Huapi Lake. 
The waitress delivered some delicious breads. We were served oil and also beet butter. Dinner was going to be a three course prix fixe menu. Steve wasn’t that thrilled with the menu. For once, I didn’t check out the menu on the internet.
I ordered still water with ice. I don’t think I have ever seen ice so cold looking in my life!
We were given an amuse bouche. It was very tasty. I think it was a broccoli puff with cream.
Steve ordered the grilled prawns, mushroom, pumpkin and lemon creamy purée, chives and almond pesto. Lisa A, make sure your son the chef looks at today’s blog post!
I had the Cold Tomato soup, marinated goat cheese, basil, black olives, confit tomatoes, cured ham and toasted bread. The tomato was ladled into the bowl. I love it when the waitress does that, it is always such a pretty picture!
I had the Patagonian trout, avocado and orange salad, cherry tomatoes, peach emulsion, almond, chives and caper vinaigrette. It was a little too rare for me. 
Steve’s entree was the skirt steak, sweet potato textures, criollo sauce with roasted peanut and sautéed mushroom. Steve’s dinner was the better of the two. 
This little dish was on the table, I didn’t realize that it was a salt dish!
We had a mango sorbet palate cleanser. I loved it, but Steve hates fruit. 
My dessert was the passion fruit curd, dacqoise and coconut sorbet. Steve of course, tried none of this!
Steve had the dark chocolate and carob cake, stone fruits, and Lunta Malbec wine ice cream. I helped Steve with his dessert also! 
Here is Steve waiting for the check to arrive. The restaurant was really empty! It doesn’t get happening in Argentina until much later!
We wandered around a little bit waiting for our taxi back to the hotel to arrive. You might be wondering how I could remember so well what we ate. Well, I took a picture of the menu!
This was the view of the ceiling from my side of the bed.
This is the view of where we are staying (
We finished lunch and decided it was time to explore the hotel. This is the view from the patio. I could leave you just staring at the picture, but I am sure you want to see more. If not, well just stare at that beautiful picture until you are ready to explore with me. 
We looked over the railing to see the gorgeous pool below. Looks nice doesn’t it? 
Here is Steve helpfully pointing out where are room is! He is such a good sport!
Off to the side was also the other part of the hotel. These rooms had true balconies and patios, instead of the Juliet Balconies, that we had. I think those rooms had a different price point than ours! Look, many chaise lounges! That seems promising for a layabout. 
We descend below and I drop my stuff to reserve my chaise lounge and explore.
Once more, the beautiful view!
This pool has a door so you can go outside, or stay inside! There were Jacuzzi bubbles in the circular area. 
This pool deserves a closer inspection doesn’t it?
Okay, that’s close enough with out going in!
There was a path leading down toward the lake. I looked at it and told Steve “Have Fun!”
We headed back in to explore the spa area. There was a sauna, and some bathrooms. Steve sure looks like he is in a hurry isn’t he? 
There was a chair under a fabric canopy. I am not sure what goes on there. 
I think that this was a price list for spa treatments. Who can interpret it for me? There are 20 Argentinian pesos to the dollar. 
There was an interesting sculpture on the wall. I behaved. Steve did not have to tell me not to touch it, nor to stare at it longer than oh, ten seconds. 
We ascended the stairs from the spa to the main floor. Pay attention to these stairs, I will have an unexcellent adventure on them in the future! 
Steve had a beer on the balcony and then we went back to our room to change for dinner.
Villa La Angostura is very near the border of Argentina and Chile. Our hotel is located just above the village. If you were to fly a drone, and take a picture you would have this. 
Our room is in the building on the left on the third floor. Come let’s explore! We turn off the main road, and descend a steep driveway. Senor Driver pushes the call button and we are greeted by the lovely Elizabeth.
We are loaded into a green buggy and descend to the hotel. It’s a very steep drive, no cars should not attempt the descent! I don’t have a picture of the front of the hotel as the grounds are filled with trees. Let’s go on in instead of lingering out front shall we?
Here is Steve filling out the registration forms. This picture is actually from Saturday morning and he is actually checking out, but we can pretend can’t we? 
On the main floor there is a beautiful pool table. An English guest mentioned to Steve that he was afraid to play on the table in case he ripped up the felt. Steve had no such worries. 
The floors were an interesting terrazzo. There were many decorative urns of flowers.
The walls were gaily decorated. 
This is the view of the living room, looking toward the guest reception. The pool table is off the the right in the rear. The view of the lake is behind me. 
With the lake to my left we see the bar to my right and the breakfast area straight ahead. The restaurant was closed for dinner. It had great reviews, it would have been nice to stay in one place for dinner. More on that later! It would be quite the adventure!
More of the dining room. There were lots of family pictures in the background. I thought that this might have been a family home turned into a hotel. We later found out that the home might be owned by the family of Queen Maxima of the Netherlands. She is from Argentina. I’m not sure about that story, but it is too delicious not to retell!
Steve peeked outside to check out the view from the terrace. It was spectacular!
Enough about the view. There are four suites on our floor. If Steve can get the door unlocked we can enter. He did it! Let’s go see the room!
Our room was called Violeta. We had a massive King size bed, Italian sheets, that were so comfy. A big ass duvet that we tossed to the floor. There was an interesting canopy above our bed. I bet that it took hours to get hung just right. I must have taken this picture before the luggage arrived. The room is still immaculate!
There was a television that I don’t think we ever turned on. 
Here is another view of the room. They left us his and her’s bathrobes with matching slippers. We had gigantic windows that had Juliet balconies. We would leave the window open all night to hear the waves lap at the shore. We were lucky not to have any birds fly in our windows!
This was the view out of our window! It really was superb! You can see the Andes in the background!
We had a big claw foot tub that I stubbed my toes on. There was a separate shower stall, twin sinks a toilet and a bidet. The South Americans seem big on bidets. Steve mentioned that he even saw one in a men’s room!
Steve was starving so we decided to have lunch. Right now Steve is perusing our documents to find out what is going to happen tomorrow.
I had the quiche with a light salad for my lunch.
Steve had a cheese hamburger with chips.
Yes, a cheese and ham burger!
We thought that was the funniest thing!