Although Bariloche is known as a big tourist destination, it somehow manages to retain a "local" feel. Actually, this theme carried throughout Argentina, which seems to have significantly more local tourism than other South American countries like Peru and Bolivia.

As a traveler, I would rather experience a place that caters to local tourists, rather than international ones. It still makes me feel like I'm in a foreign land.

Anyway, Bariloche is rife with little (and amazing) chocolate shops. The downtown area is only a few blocks square, built on the side of a sloping hill that plunges into the lake.

That's right. 18 ping pong matches in a row. We fought off high winds and swirling rain to play match after match after match.

Kip continued to think he could beat me. But alas, hell never froze over.