Up early for breakfast, then cab it to the airport. A pretty easy flight into the mountains – only 60 miles from the border with Chile – and we hop into our rental car and into town. It’s a pretty drive – just hug the coast of the lake – and we park in town and walk around a bit. Fairly touristy, although not as bad as Estes park, and after picking up a couple of empanadas, we continue on our way out about 25 km to our hotel: The Llao Llao Resort and Golf Club (pun intended, I’m sure!). It’s a beautiful old-school alpine-like resort nestled right on the lake. So beautiful:
and the view across the infinity pool and lake (yes, you know the person in the royal blue suit, stretched out on the right of the photo):
When we check in, they have upgraded us to a lake view room, which is up the elevator to the 4th floor, and then up another flight of steps (or single floor elevator). I feel like we’re up in the rafters, which we kind of are, but the view from the window is spectacular!
It’s fairly late, so we unpack, walk around (I rest) and then hop in the car to go to Cassis, a husband and wife-owned restaurant that uses local ingredients. We use the Apple map from my phone, but when it directs us past the famous ski area in Campo Catedral (named for the jagged peaks behind it that resemble cathedral spires) to a big hole in the ground, we realize we’re in trouble. But Michael uses his head, and our GPS, to key in the location by restaurant name, and we’re there in 20 minutes. It’s nestled in what was once a lovely lakeside house, and the views during dinner are wonderful. The place only has 6 tables, each with a great view out a large panoramic window that is about 15 feet high. We take a picture out on the back deck of our beautiful selves:
and the sunset:
and then we go inside to enjoy our 5-course tasting menu, starting with poultry foie gras and homemade breads with herb butter, relish and dips:
and then thinly-sliced pumpernickel with smoked salmon and grilled artichoke hearts with artichoke emulsion:
a lovely gazpacho accompanied by ceviche:
delicious green salad, dressed with their own elder flower dressing (which they were happy to sell you), prawns from Puerto Madryn with wild rice and tomato essence, a grapefruit and campari granita palate cleanswer, and then Patagonian lamb strudel:
that was quite yummy. A light dessert of gooseberry sorbet with tuile cookies and orange flakes, and we were headed home. Met with a major detour on the way, we fell into bed about midnight, ready to enjoy the beautiful facilities all day tomorrow.