Tired of their lives as lawyers in 1990s London, Helen and Simon Pattinson headed for South America to find a way out of the rat race. "We sold our house," says Helen. "We gave up our jobs and put everything into storage except a rucksack full of stuff and a tent."
Burning bridges —
Tired of their lives as lawyers in 1990s London, Helen and Simon Pattinson headed for South America to find a way out of the rat race. "We sold our house," says Helen. "We gave up our jobs and put everything into storage except a rucksack full of stuff and a tent."
Courtesy Helen and Simon and Pattinson
The couple traveled across South America, from the southern tip of Argentina to the most northerly point of Venezuela. "The breadth of culture and climate there is like a planet itself," says Helen Pattinson. "It's unbelievable."
Culture and climate —
The couple traveled across South America, from the southern tip of Argentina to the most northerly point of Venezuela. "The breadth of culture and climate there is like a planet itself," says Helen Pattinson. "It's unbelievable."
Courtesy Helen and Simon and Pattinson
Eventually their travels took them to Bariloloche in Argentina, a beautiful town settled by European migrants drawn over the centuries by the alpine-style scenery.
Bariloche, Argentina —
Eventually their travels took them to Bariloloche in Argentina, a beautiful town settled by European migrants drawn over the centuries by the alpine-style scenery.
Courtesy Inprotur
Bariloche has long been a significant tourism center in Argentina and has developed extensive skiing, trekking and mountaineering networks.
Andean foothills —
Bariloche has long been a significant tourism center in Argentina and has developed extensive skiing, trekking and mountaineering networks.
Courtesy Inprotur
Bariloche is also famous for chocolate shops. "Simon was actually laid up with an upset stomach for about three days, so we booked ourselves into a hotel," Helen Pattinson recalls. "While he was in there I didn't want to drift too far, so I spent three days walking around this little town, only to discover it had 10 chocolate shops."
Chocolate City —
Bariloche is also famous for chocolate shops. "Simon was actually laid up with an upset stomach for about three days, so we booked ourselves into a hotel," Helen Pattinson recalls. "While he was in there I didn't want to drift too far, so I spent three days walking around this little town, only to discover it had 10 chocolate shops."
Courtesy Helen and Simon and Pattinson
"I was in heaven. I've always loved chocolate," says Helen Pattinson of Bariloche. She says the city provided the couple with their "eureka moment."
'Eureka moment' —
"I was in heaven. I've always loved chocolate," says Helen Pattinson of Bariloche. She says the city provided the couple with their "eureka moment."
Courtesy Helen and Simon and Pattinson
As they continued their travels, the couple learned more about the chocolate industry, even camping in a cocoa plantation in Venezuela when the road was blocked by farmers using the asphalt to dry cocoa beans.
Travels in chocolate —
As they continued their travels, the couple learned more about the chocolate industry, even camping in a cocoa plantation in Venezuela when the road was blocked by farmers using the asphalt to dry cocoa beans.
Courtesy Helen and Simon and Pattinson
Returning to the UK, they founded Montezuma's Chocolates in Chichester, a seaside town south of London. Their business is named after the Aztec emperor who first gifted chocolate to European explorers whom he mistook for gods.
Back in Britain —
Returning to the UK, they founded Montezuma's Chocolates in Chichester, a seaside town south of London. Their business is named after the Aztec emperor who first gifted chocolate to European explorers whom he mistook for gods.
Courtesy Montezuma Chocolates
Montezuma now produces 250,000 metric tons of chocolate annually -- roughly equivalent to 25 million bars. It's expanding into markets in the United States, China, the Middle East and continental Europe.
Montezuma —
Montezuma now produces 250,000 metric tons of chocolate annually -- roughly equivalent to 25 million bars. It's expanding into markets in the United States, China, the Middle East and continental Europe.
Courtesy Montezuma Chocolates
"I love what I do, I love coming to the office and just having fun with the teams here," says Pattinson. "I am really lucky. I've created a business out of a product that I am passionate about. I get to eat chocolate for breakfast every day."
Chocolate for breakfast —
"I love what I do, I love coming to the office and just having fun with the teams here," says Pattinson. "I am really lucky. I've created a business out of a product that I am passionate about. I get to eat chocolate for breakfast every day."
CNN