Patagonian Compromise

My villa, my view!

I had an email today from Patagonia - a place I once thought fabricated until a friend assured me that it really did exist. I'd commented on Quickroute's blog about my best friend Thommo wanting to go there and her husband's reluctance to do so because he likes a warm bed, hot shower and a flushing toilet and the little luxuries of life. Thommo on the other hand is happy not showering for a week and pooing in a hole! She is the complete opposite to me. Light drinker, fit, fabulously beautiful, thin, stressy and adventurous. Me, I'm chumpy, calm, easy going (apart from the flying there bit) practical, lazy and definitely not the 'adventure tourist'. I don't mind watching you white water rafting but I'm not keen to be in the frey!

Now Thommo (who is currently hiking the Cinque Terra - with TheBoss - then touring Sicily) loves wild adventures, she's up for a dose of guardia, a dab of dysentery . . . She's trekked in Nepal, she's trekked New Zealand, she's toured Vietnam without an itinerary, she skis in Japan and has done the Cradle Mountain walk in Tasmania (one of the best but not easy) and has a long burn to go to Patagonia. I must admit that South America was never one of my holiday destinations but since Clare's been on the Gringo Trail, I have a yearn.

Now the problem. Thommo's husband would rather play golf in Ireland. Thommo wants to 'do' Patagonia and would like company. I'm not that fit for long hikes and high climbs thanks to increasingly arthritic knees, and too much weight . . one of the lesser valuable legacies bestowed upon us by our paternal grandparents, but Thommo and I travel, work and live well together.

So . . after the comment on Quickie's site, along comes www.BarilocheVacationRental.com from Jaimie saying that they have accommodation somewhere between five star and a poo hole! And indeed they do. Whether a luxury villa by a lake or a studio apartment in the hills they're in the thick of it. Ello! Sounding better already. How nice is it that someone from a blog in South America, reads a comment and sends a link on the off chance that some random Australians might venture there one day. Basically she said, 'hey, you can have the best of both worlds and for a price that might surprise you'. Plus they're doggie lovers and that gets me in straight away.

So, when her poo-in-a-hole Majesty returns from her much less than poo-in-a-hole lovely Italian and third overseas visit this year (she's a little more liquid than I) Maybe we can come to a Patagonian compromise. I like the views and a cocktail on the lake. She likes to hike and ski. I like a leisurely walk around town, food and learning how the other half lives, she likes adventure sports. We both however love long lunches, views, foreign climes and culture we're like two peas in a pod on a leisurely holiday, only a bit like Laurel and Hardy. We're happy reading our books and occasionally cooing at the amazing surroundings and contemplating the universe . . and both can sit quietly by serene lakes, saying little -for silences between us are not uncomfortable. Give us a mountain view and clean air and we can wonder at the grandeur of nature and the simplicity of life.

Even if I don't get there and if perchance you would like to visit Patagonia (which incidentally is truly beautiful) go take a look at Jaimie's offering. Erm nope not being paid and I've never stayed and I don't know them.

And I leave you with another view, one I have NEVER seen or heard of before although those better travelled than I may recognise it . . please say if you do . . . there has been no colour tampering with this shot, no adjustment, no photoshop and there's no prize, jut kudos for those who guess where it might be:



Thommo I won't ski but if I'm liquid, I'll bring Clare along and meet you for the Apres if you know what I mean?