Southern Life Experience: "El Bolsón".

A lot of things are said about this village, nowadays crowded by an incipient population of 30.000 inhabitants, of which the majority came from other Argentinian and Chilean cities, looking for "new sunrises". Maybe 

you´ve heard about it under the denomination of "Hippie Settlement" or "Debauchery city"; Believe, I´d heard all that stuff before moving here in february leaving my comfortable home in Buenos Aires and also all my ways of living. But let me clarify the picture: it´s just a normal town, that´s it!

When I first arrived at the tiny town center (which is practically the city itself), I was a little bit zonked at the noise and mess around me (it was fair day), full of ginger haired backpackers, israelits tourists, gypsys and neo-hippies. But with a little bit of imagination and with the help of an invisible hand taking all the stands and bags away, I was able to discover a picturesque park.

I must admit that, in spite of the fact that I desperately missed my home and the shock of having to adapt to this rather plain town, most of the worries vanished whein I took a look at the mountains. Patagonia has wonderful landscapes and Bolsón is not an exception. It´s also true that the atmosphere is really refreshing and soul-comforting., but I´m not so pleased to admit that the residents weren´t what I actually expected. The town is full of gypsys that offer rudely and eagerly useless trinkets and are often willing to trick the unaware outsiders; the drivers are not kinder than the previous, erase the old fashioned "ingalls family" style villager and the hippies won´t reject an opportunity for filling their pockets.

Also, I found out that lot of inhabitants are a little bit subversive and especially with Catholics and "dandys".Unluckily, the drugs are spread between the youth and, also between not so young people.

But not everyone is like that, even though they may seem a little bit distant, you´ll be able to get to them afterwards.

As you can see, it´s a town like any other, and within its best stuff it has wonderful trails that cross Coihue woods, pristine water streams, breathtaking mountains summits and homemade beer pubs. Enjoy the landscapes in any time of the year, each season has something special.

If you´re planning to come, take off you head the idea of having to bring a 2 tons bag, it´s not the South Pole! Really, the temperatures are rather mild in the city. If you´re really adventurous, a pair of reliable trekking boots, one pair of trainers and a warm waterproof jacket would be enough. DON¨Y FORGET HIGH PROTECTION SUNCREAM! It´s not a suggestion, its a warn, haha, but really, the sun is fierce during the whole day and you won´t notice until it´s late.

ENJOY THE MILD WEATHER AND THE VARIETY OF PEOPLE. THE PRICES ARE REALLY AFFORDABLE. AND FOR CLOSING, IF YOU´RE LUCKY TO RUN INTO A FOLK, YOU´LL EXPERIENCE THAT UNDESCRIPTIVE FEELING OF REDISCOVERING YOUR HOME!