Parador El Lagar Salta

... blue wondering whether I had done the right thing.  The pedicure was basic using some very basic creams and a wide selection of five colours, actually four, as two pots were the same colour.  I did not ask about the sterilisation of utensils as it was obvious that a squirt with a spray of some magical formula, (no idea what) was sufficient.  As for the waxing, well there was no worry of spreading disease here as she ladled a green wedge of gloppy wax and spread it down my leg ...

... which helped us get to know eachother. Riky, with her hair in a "corn row" braid from Bolivia, was especially friendly. She explained that the 2 of them started traveling together only a few days prior. Feli had come from Cusco, Peru where she is based now, living with an uncle and volunteering. We decided we would spend our second day in Salta with our new friends.<br><br>The day began relaxed as we got the go-ahead to do our ...

... wimbledon and researching the price of bus tickets to various places. The road trip had wiped us all out and so it was early to bed that evening which I was disappointed with as we still hadnt had chance to sample the night life of Salta, but I couldnt keep my eyes open! <br><br>The next day we booked our bus tickets to Iguasu for the following day so that we had one more night in Salta, hurrah! We decided to spend our last day wisely and went up ...

... it runs for 4000kilometers.<br>It was quant, pretty and very sleepy, we pottered round there for an hour and made our way back to the hostel on route our guild saw a condor!!! What a sight they have a wing span of up to 6meters!!<br>We were exhausted after all the traveling, so went for a cat nap, had food and chilled for the evening.<br><br>We had to check out of our room by 11am, so we got up and got our stuff together, had some breakfast and went to the main square and sat in a fancy ...

... of those who will come. To think of the danger, to think of the fun, to think of the end game, to think about my life, to think about others, to talk to others, to tell them about yourself, to listen to their story, to talk about the world, to talk about how we talk, to not watch T.V. To be. To see. To move. It feels good. Today was a day which does not come along often, even when travelling far and wide. It was a day which defines who you are and how you hold ...

So we arrived by car in Salta driving ourselves in our Golf. We were enjoying having a car and independence.After negotiating the traffic filled streets of Salta, which caused me some stress as the Argentine drivers are crazy, I quickly let Daniella take over the driving, as we found the hostel that we would be staying at for the next couple of days. Tierra oculta was located near the centre of Salta, it was a really nice hostel, though noticeably ...

... now calling home. Miguel (my host dad) decided that taking all the furniture apart would be more trouble than it was worth and so having cleared mine and Tom's room of furniture he and Maria (my host mum and possibly the nicest woman in Argentina) stood on an upstairs balcony of the house precariously hanging (deceptively heavy) solid wooden bed frames over the edge for Tom and I to catch as we stood helplessly underneath praying it all went according to the fabulously improvised plan ...

... back on the horse, I got a hold of the mane, somehow managed to get my foot into the stirrup which was higher than my waist and got myself back on and the gauchos were impressed! Rafael said something along the lines of "chiquitita, doesnt need any help" and from then on I was known as Chiquitita. Love it! So we headed back to the ranch for lunch where there was an asado and lots of vino and the owner Enrique ate with us and provided lots of banter! Now, that ...

... way, completely rimmed by handicraft stalls with brightly coloured textiles, llama wool ponchhos, and an amazing hat selection. We drove out of Purmamarca and started climbing immediately. It was a dream road, brand new, very wide and beautifully paved, Blair and I were both having visions of cycle-touring. It was up up up, sharp switchbacks all the way to the top, where they say you are so high you feel as though you could touch the ...

... of an ATM without retrieving my card. It is amazing how chilled out you get while traveling. Your concentration contracts. It is hard to focus on anything too long because no destination is that important. You can always go somewhere else. You start to take this attitude with everything. Your mind can not concentrate long enough to Finnish an ATM transaction. I have given myself a good kick up the bum. I have to pay attention to what I am doing in future.