Skiing

I have come to the end of my 3 days skiing in Bariloche, and have decided to stay an extra night, to go paragliding over the mountains!
It has been quite an experience.
This town has the most amazing setting. In Europe we dont get these amazing beautiful lakes in the mountains. I really wish we did, because the views from the top were stunning. You could see about 3 of 'the 7 Lakes'.
As a result of being so low down, we have to get a 40min bus to St Catedral..which is where the ski lifts start from.
The whole system roundhere alsotook me a little while to work out. Normally in Europe you would rent everything in the village where you were staying, and then get on the bus with all your stuff. Here they have everything for rent AT the ski lifts. Much better...because you dont have to take everything with you on the bus. But it is a bit confusing. Also at the ski lifts they have loadsofchocolate shops. Just like all through the town! Chocolate, chocolate EVERYWHERE!!! AHHHH!!! I have to admit that i cant even look at chocolate anymore.. and this is the first time I have ever felt like this. Normally i can eat chocolate for England.. but jesus.. had so much... cant handle it any more!
The skiing itself has been pretty varied. Definitly not the best skiing i have ever done, but also not the worst.
Unfortunatly the boots theygave me on the first day were absolutly rubbish! I endedup struggling the whole day.. and the skis felt like 2 planks of wood, no edges! Also, as soon as i got to the top this huge cloud came, and didnt leave all day till i got to the bottom at the end of the day. So the snow had just looked flat all day, which had made everything even worse, and couldnt see further than 10m. Another problem was that it was prettymuchall ice. Atthe very top, the peaks were out of the coulds and the snow was wonderful and powdery.. but below.. just like ice, sprinkled in what looked and felt like salt. Would just run through your fingers, and caused loads of friction. Skiing on that was pretty tough, one minute slidingdown on the ice, the next you hit a mound of this thick snow stuff!
The second and third day were pretty good.Loads of sun, but only did half a day of skiing.I have been told its generally all ice till midday. This is beacuse in the day it gets so warm, melts the snow turns it toslush, but then the next day that leaves everything as ice. Also, now they are really needing more snow assome parts are bare near the bottom. And unfortunatly i think that snow will be coming just as i leave.. Bummer!
The difficulty of the slopes is quite easy.. and there are loadsofmougles to practice on, so i think it isprettygood mix for beginners and more advanced people, but definitly if you are verygod, you would get bored.Another good thing, is that theslopes arent too packed with people. Even on the weekend.. so you have lots of space, and dont have to be too paranoid about people skiing into you!
Really love thistown, just dont wanna leave! I think i will definitly be coming back in the summer. Get stuck into all the hiking, rafting, biking, cannoeing, cannyoning, riding etc! Great little town.
I think this has definitly been the most beautiful place i have stayed! It is simply stunning! Icant getover the views! If you have the time and money .. YOU MUST VISIT!!! xxx