Tanpu Mayu Tilcara

... hostel w/ internet, i will report again, but intend to book a 3 or 4 day jeep trip to the highest salt flats in the world, so if there is no action, I am in route to Uyunni best db *for some reason my mental compass has been of this whole trip. I swear the sun kept setting in the east in BA for instrance. It doesn´t help that most of the maps are not orientated to true north, but that still doesn´t explain my disorientation. As someone who like to just glance at a map ...

... and spent the next 3 hours on a hot, stuffy, jarringly bouncy bus to the border, with my knee stiffening and swelling under me. I know I'm a total wimp when it comes to pain, but it was so bad I honestly thought I must have smashed my kneecap! The scenery en-route was stunning, through tunnels carved into the mountains, tiny pueblos of mud brick houses with lamas grazing outside, the occasional lonely shepherd in a bright poncho, views of magnificent ...

... La Quiaca and then walk across the border into Bolivia and to the border town of Villazón. There is political unrest in Bolivia at the moment and a few fellow backpacker I´d met were keeping away, especially Americans. I decided to carry on, and all I can say everything was fine, again the bus journey passed through some spectacular scenery, passing numerous Lama farms on the way. La Quiaca is a typical border town so as well is Villazón - both are not pretty but ...

Found a great place to stay in Tilcare, Posada Don Juan. 2 rooms for 200 pesos,or about $66. They are spotless, and every detail taken care of. Something you would pay around $400 a night for in Napa Valley. Tilcare is a dusty little town in Jujuy province in Northern Argentina. We had great empanada's in the market for a peso each. I am chewing coca leaves (hojas coca) in Northern Argentina. They are chewed by many people in the North,it's the recommended ...

... Apparently it is a huge tourist attraction (seeing as how I was there..) especially during Pascua (easter). We took a two hour siesta, shopped in the big craft/market place, then went to a pena that night for some good traditional food and amazing amazing music! I was so tired from not sleeping the night before and kept falling asleep, but the music was good folkloric music with pan flutes, guitars, drums, and more. Friday the 21st - We rode horses around in the ...

... decorated and had two dogs. We had a pretty relaxing day. Tilcara is a small pueblo with dirt or rock roads. Apparently it is a huge tourist attraction (seeing as how I was there..) especially during Pascua (easter). We took a two hour siesta, shopped in the big craft/market place, then went to a pena that night for some good traditional food and amazing amazing music! I was so tired from not sleeping the night before and kept falling asleep ...

... except when you enter it turns into a perfectly rectangular mini town holding 7000 people. They can't be doing too bad though when satellite dishes cover the rooves of each home. Driving onwards we followed this 'road' which was pretty much an uneven gravel path & felt like driving over rumble strips non stop passing foxes, alpacas, llamas & vicuñas until we came upon a restaurant sign in the middle of wilderness. Our guide lead us off the trail along an even rougher path towards ...

... prisoner of war (falklands), but had praise for the Welsh. Leaving Salta, we head north for our trip to Tilcara. We ended up on the windy road, which was great, as it took us through some great scenery, lots of forests. After a couple of hours we reach Jujury (or choo chooy) another big city. Although hungry, Jon decided to head on (lizz was a sleep by now). The final road to Tilcara was ...

... other English voices so far. Not surprisingly the hostel didn't have our reservation as they use an online booking service but don't have the internet in house! However, they had a room available and the accommodation more than makes up for the slight lack of organisation! The rooms are around a tiny, pretty, cobbled courtyard and they are decorated all with local materials. At first they seem basic, but then you ...

The way I am taking from Argentina to Bolivia goes north from Salta and Jujuy, into the Quebrada de Humahuaca. This valley has been of prime importance to the incas and then the spaniards and whoever was there before them, as it is a natural corridor to travel through and transfer cattle: going steadily up from 2000m to around 3500 near Bolivia, and offering water all along the way. Humahuaca is the main town in the Quebrada, and the whole area is ...