Friday was my last full day in Bariloche, and I didn’t plan any tour. I wanted it to be a relaxed kind of day and just wander as I felt like it.

There was, though, one more thing I wanted to do. Higher up in the mountains, about an hour’s drive from town, there is a famous hotel called Llao Llao (the double l is pronounced like sh in the Argentine way.) It was built in the 1930s, burned down a couple of times, and now enjoys an unparalleled reputation for luxury even beyond the borders of Argentina. I called to book for afternoon tea, and hopped on the local bus for the trip up.

The location is perfect, with amazing views on all sides — I guess that’s why the cheap rooms start at US$400 a night and the suites go up to US$1,500!

My timing was a little off and I was too late for the full afternoon tea in the Winter Garden restaurant. But they were serving a la carte in the lobby lounge, so I opted for that. Very 1940s — I kept expecting Hercule Poirot to waddle in twirling his moustaches! I had the “Cafe Llao Llao”, which was a very fancy cappucino with coffee beans floating in it and flavoured with chocolate, and scones with jam.

I went back for dinner in town, very satisfied with my holiday in Bariloche. Next day I’d be heading home but, as I’ve said to several people, going home at the end of a holiday isn’t so bad when home is beautiful Buenos Aires!

This is me waiting in the lobby lounge, trying to look suitably snooty!

The house specialty coffee with scones and jam