Hostal Villar Del Ala Tilcara

... using my new full metal mesh pack lock given to me by an aussie in BA. As i was setting out the guy gave me two towelles and a bar of soap, kinda implying I wanted to shower then? I said "not now, tomorrow" and set off walking. Found the bus station again, realized there were plenty of buses all day, and after a brief walk decided I might not have a chance to hang in such an out of the way, small town so i should stay. Walked around the square, and poked my head into ...

It was just one of those days. You know when you get up in the morning, and after about 10 minutes the tone has been set, and you realise you should have just stayed under the blankets... Although Tupiza had been one of my favourite stops on this trip, I am on a pretty tight timeline right now, so I knew I had to get going yesterday morning, and head south back over the border to Argentina. I would like to have spent a couple of days horse riding among the ...

... léger pour les températures nocturnes à 2000 mètres. J'enfile donc ma belle combinaison Damart achetée avant le départ pour m'endormir au milieu du vacarme des Argentins passablement émèchés. Je me réveille au milieu de la nuit à cause du froid et suis contraint d'enfiler tous les vêtements chauds que je transporte pour ne plus grelotter. Je me rendors finalement jusqu'au matin. Je sors de ma tente vers 9h00 pour enfin voir le camping de jour. Le soleil ...

... d espagnols. On tchatte un peu et nos passeports reviennent tamponnes. Ciao Bolivia y viva Argentina. Les vivas s arretent quand deux francais me disent que ca fait 4 h 1/2 qu ils attendent depuis l endroit ou nous allons commencer a esperer. Je rediscute avec l espagnol puis avec les douanieres. Ce sont les vacances et les fetes alors les gens vont visites leur familles, et parfois de l autres cote d la frontiere. Sachant que les douaniers prennent un temps fou pour ...

... of local traders pass through and you can buy very cheap goods on the Bolivian side. Managed to find a hotel within 10 minutes of crossing the border (I had no problem with both set Passport control!), the Grand Palace Hotel. After gladly dumping my bags, I then called by the local bank to get some "Bolivians" - the Bolivian currency, and change some of my Argentinean currency. After a light evening meal this time around, it was back to the hotel for an early night.

... for these altitudes.. It's legal and not frowned upon. It's their tea. When Amy, Kris, and I arrived at the Salta bus terminal we had coca tea. We bought Harina de coca (coca flour) in the health food store, and when I asked a gas station attendant if I could buy coca leaves for altitude sickness, a local stuck a bag out of his truck and handed it to me. He wouldn't take any money from me for it. We met a cute family from Jujuy, and went to a La Pena.

... 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 ...

As I departed Salta I made my way northwards through a series of Pueblitas and more deep canyons on my way towards Humauaca. More of the amazing scenery I had witnessed on my way down towards Cafayette was the order of the day and the atmosphere and people themselves became much less European and more Andean in scope as I continued to rise in elevation and proximity to the Bolivian border. The seven colored hill of Pumachara, fields of Cacti as far as the eye could ...

... can exist. We turn off onto the mighty Route 40, which runs along most of the length of Argentina. We see some salt crystals in the soil and a number of men harvesting it. The Salar shimmers magically like a mirage in the distance. The scenery reminds me a lot of the landscapes around the Salar de Uyuni, Parque Nacionale Lauca, and San Pedro de Atacama, perhaps because they are only around 400km away but in other countries. The deserted route 40 eventually ...