Hunting Dinosaur in Villa El Chocon

I just LOVED the welcoming sign to Villa El Chocon.

 While researching Argentina, I learned that some of the largest dinosaur fossils ever found where discovered in Neuquen. I felt like we hit the jackpot! Seeing family and seeing dinosaur fossils! How cool would that be? Amara is learning about the time line of man in school so a visit to the dinosaurs (or their remnants!) would be a mind blowing educational adventure. I mean it's one thing to read about these mammoth creatures in school. It's another to get up close to the bones!

The museum itself turned out to be on the smaller size; but the fossils themselves; not too small! 

 The above fossils were the first ones we saw; both girls were a little intimadated but this dude (or dudette) was laying down so s/he was harmless.

 This dude scared the girls....it took some coaxing but eventually Amara got up close. Havana not so much. She kept close to Don.

 

 Amara is not smiling in the above photo. That speaks volumes of how she felt about the dinosaur!

 Technically, it's a bad idea to touch the fossil. But I rationalized this decision by telling myself it was good Amara was working out her fear.

 Guess who got a kick out of the name of this fella?!

 

 I attempted some panoramic photos with my cell phone to try and capture the size and magnitude of the dinosaurs. They didn't come out so great but they will serve their purpose in helping us remember our day.

The girls signing their name in the guest book, which both girls loved doing.

Views (above and below) of the lake in El Chocon.

 After our visit with the dinosaurs we were all very hungry. There was one problem. There was not many options in Villa Chacon. Yet traveling has a way of working things out; magical things happen; doors open just when they are needed....and on that day we found the one open restaurant and met one of the nicest people we had ever met. Did it matter the girls and I spoke no Spanish and he no English; not really. Sure, Don navigated ordering the food (give thanks!) but where there is love, warm, compassion, patience....words are not needed. This man saw the hungry, tired females in our family and made sure we felt welcomed and that we ate till our bellies were full.

 By the time we were done with our lunch and the crankies were gone, the girls and Roberto (our new friends name) were getting on like they had known him long before our lunch began.

Roberto and his wife; they reminded Don and I both of our grandparents with their warmth and the love they had in their hearts for the strangers they fed.

Add captionThe restaurant felt like a cabin in Montana. It felt cozy and  homey not at all like a restaurant.

 The dogs in Argentina all seemed like pure breeds, even the strays. Roberto's dog was out standing guard over her pups. The pups were a magnet for the girls!

 Don thought I was crazy for asking Roberto about dinosaur bones (well I asked Don to ask) and where to find them. I figured we were in dinosaur country so why not ask. After persuading Don to ask for me Roberto replied with a confident "Si" and a wave of his hand, gesturing me to come outside. There he showed me...... Dinosaur Bones in found on his land! (to the left of the pole!)

Ask and you shall receive! Here are two, rather large, fossils. 

After a most satisfying lunch of pasta for us gals, carne for Don, puppy petting and dinosaur bones we headed out for the reminder of our journey. Villa El Chocon was the first stop on our venture West towards the Andes and the Lake District. We were given a farewell by our new friend Roberto and another of the locals!!