Presidente Salta

... Rooms were comfortable and clean and the kitchen was big. Clean bathrooms too. Breakfast included. Price: $ 30 (about u$s 7,50.-)

I spent the afternoon in the city, walking around, taking pictures, slowing down. It was a peaceful time but after walking for about five hours I really needed to go back to the hostel, take a shower and go somewhere to eat. It was really hot in Salta!! and my red sneakers were ...

... which was useless as it requires taking tablets for a week before entering a malaria zone. Feeling stuck for a solution, I went on the NHS website and looked at the different drugs. My eyes scanned down the list, and passed over doxycycline, where I read the following "Dosage: 2 days before entering a malaria zone..." I was completely wrong, and I had no problems whatsoever as long as I took my first tablet that day. Relieved, I explained this all to the pharmacist ...

... and put off by the (relatively) high price, I wasn't so keen and so we had a look in the museum shop. The museum guide showed pictures of the bodies up close and I think that must have been enough for Tiago as we were soon back out in the plaza again.

The plaza, unlike much of the garden areas in the dry winter season, is plush and the carved benches surrounding the square always seem to be full of people enjoying the warm ...

... found out how much there was to do we decided to stay 4 instead.
We booked some trips and our bus, then stopped for something to eat. We continued to look around the town before stopping at the supermarket for some supplies. We returned to the hostel around 5.30pm and relaxed for a bit before returning to the supermarket to buy a light snack for tea.

We watched some T.V until 10.30pm before getting a much needed earlish night.

27th May 2009

With some very early ...

... empire) and then they had to walk in a straight line back home, over mountains and through rivers. When they got home they were given alcoholic chicha and taken to the mountains where they were left in caves with lots of riches. It was really sad and quite shocking to read about it and what was more shocking was that the museum also displayed the bodies of 2 of the children of the mountain. The mummies were over 500 years old but perfectly preserved by the cold ...

... a massive project run by the PN and scientists to save the birds and thus prevent any further damage to the wonderful cardones. It is believed by the Andean peoples that the cardones are resurrected dead souls watching over those living. The thousands of cardones lining the landscape very much looked like huddled masses of people! We also saw tons of guanaco parading around the countryside. Guanaco are a member of the llama family. All ...

... the largest northern Argentine city (and is home to San Martin de Tucuman, who I saw River Plate defeat when we visited Buenos Aires) and also the poorest town in Argentina that I had seen thus far. The industrial city contains mostly older and slightly run-down 1-2 storey buildings. Driving through town in the evening (around 8pm), it felt like we were traveling through the barrios of BA, Lima or being in ...

... doughnut. Unfortunately it would appear I am one and the same. For someone who is usually a bit cocky about being able to read maps and generally thought herself to have a good sense of direction... it completely had me. I spent most of the time wandering in completely the wrong direction. Don't ask why, I've no excuse... apart from maybe hidden ley lines under the earth which messed with my inner radar. There, that's the best I've got ...

... und Uruguay beliebt sein. Und gesund ist es auch, angeblich noch gesuender als gruener Tee. Na dann mal los, jetzt haben wir auch unsere Ausruestung :-) Am ersten Tag unserer kleinen Rundreise fahren wir in den Norden der Stadt bis nach Purmamarca. Auf dem Weg kommen wir sowohl durch regenwaldaehnliche Gebiete (wo uns viele exotische Voegel begegnen) als auch vorbei an komplett trockenen Bergen. Hinter jeder Kurve scheint die Landschaft ihr Gesicht zu veraendern. Die Berge ...

... the Salinas Grandes (Salt Plains) which are in the Jujuy province. On the way we saw some Vicuņas which are similar to alpacas but their wool is shorter and softer. The salt plains were amazing to see and I loved the reflections from the standing water on them. We had a lovely fruit salad here as well :) Next we drove past the highest point of the trip at 4,170m and drove up the Cuesta del Lipan which was just as spectacular as the Quebrada del ...