SAN RAFAEL! We left Mendoza for a few days for a side trip.

230km southeast of Mendoza is a small city of 98,000 people called San Rafael. Right outside the quaint city is the Rio Atuel (river) which passes through a colorful ravine that some say reminds them of the Grand Canyon. The Canon del Atuel is partly submerged by 4 hydroelectric dams. Nestled in the ravine was our cabana, Cabanas del Sol.

Outside our cabana was a view to admire!
The owners pet Llama kept the grass trim.
Randall and the kids white water rafting



Yes! Austin enjoyed a lazy hour reading with the wonderful sounds of the river.
This gauchos estantia was in the middle of no where beyond the Canon del Atuel. We went searching for GEODES and hoping to get some DINNER. The "dinner" was too old to butcher for just 6 adults and 2 kids. So we had to pass on the goat.
This is the plumbing...

The outdoor kitchen was a wonderful clay oven.
Dinner was up the mountain, but like I said, they were all just too big for 6 adults and 2 kids!

Inside the gauchos home was this beautiful religious arrangement next to a huge geode he found out back behind his home.
Randi and Austin looking for geodes
She got them! She has always loved collecting rocks. So, as you can imagine, this trip was right up her alley! Just a little more stuff to carry home in May. Hum, can't wait to pack AGAIN.
This remnant of someone else's dinner was just laying around. So of course, you know Randall just had to pick it up. Maybe next time will get to pick out our livestock for dinner???

If you are planning a trip to San Rafael, we highly recommend the Cabana Del Sol. You can check out their website here but you'll need to translate it. If you have never used a translator on the web, try this one called Babel Fish Translator . It will easily show you how to translate an entire web page or just text! I have used it when trying to send emails to coordinate hotel arrangements etc. I type my message in English. Copy it to Babel Fish. And, it's that simple. It's now in both languages! Give it a try. By the way, I learned that trick from my son, Austin.