Los Colorados Purmamarca

... no driver.  Eventually one arrives an hour and a half later questioning our guide on why we have to leave so early as the Argentinian guide would not be there until 1pm and it is only two hours away.  For one reason or another we left, squashed in a five seater car with our luggage bouncing in the open boot.  

And then we breakdown.  The sulphide smell we attributed to the geysers in the area (what geysers any experienced traveler down this road ...

... around saying hello to tourists. Anyway this dog had lots of energy and started chasing the stones that Evan was kicking as he walked. The dog ended up following us for our whole 3km walk around the hill and didn't tire for a second. She had an insatiable appetite for rock-fetching and didn't seem concerned about straying from the village.

That night, partly to delay returning to our freezing but cheap accommodation, we went out to dinner at the town's ...

... of the valley, we stopped at Maimara where the mountains seemed to be painted by God - the best view of these wonderful mountains was in fact at the cemetary. The first majour town inside the Quebrada is Tilcara where the Incas built a fortress. We wandered around the narrow streets of this lovely town before heading further north towards Humahuaca, some 40km further north. Km 15240- Humahuaca (2940m) Humahuaca is ...

... Purmamarca und die Strasse fuerht ueber Serpentinen den Berg runter, leider ist es schon fast dunkel und so kann man nicht mehr allzu viel von der Landschaft erkennen. Um etwa 21.30 Uhr Kommen wir in Purmamarca an und teilen uns ein 3 Bett Zimmer, da sonst nichts zu finden ist. Dilluns XII - I - MMIX Després d'una dutxa i esmorzar, ens duuen el cotxe. Marxem tard, en direcció est, seguint el recorregut que feia el "Tren de las Nubes ...

... and more expensive than we expected, presumably because it is on a well trodden route plied by the tour buses, but we needed to stay overnight to see the morning sunlight on the 7 coloured hills. They were beautiful, but tricky to photograph as they were so big and so close to the village- I think our best shot was as we left the village and looked back at them from a distance.

... The via duct was accessible through some rough terrain, bordering on 4wd territory. The last few kms were badly signposted and deeply rutted. The poor hire car was used to its full potential in Tristan`s skillful hands. The via duct was more of a reason for the journey than a terribly exciting edifice, but it was there.. which meant it should be climbed... right? I have to say thought, it was harder than expected with the altitude. It just makes ...

... have to order vegetables and a starch if you don't want. And you really don't start eating until at least 10 o'clock...the places really fill up by 11 or so. And there's a show with singing and dancing every night. All over town...there are tourists and locals alike. It's a very social atmosphere. The dancing is phenomenal...gauchos are Argentinian cowboys...and although they're dancing with women, they are the real ...

... low adobe houses reminds me of San Pedro de Atacama, only in Tilcara it is still relatively undeveloped. We check into Hostal Malka where we meet friendly and laid back Juan. The hostel is set on a dusty hill which has good views over the town. Each cabaña is uniquely decorated with traditional weaved mats, bamboo insulated ceilings and a wood burning stove. It´s very cosy and a very good recommendation from Gaelle. We only expect to stay one night in Tilcara ...

Tja, so hab ich mir meinen Urlaub bestimmt nicht vorgestellt...hab gerade eine Woche im Kankenlager verbracht, dank eines laestigen, nicht loszuwerdenden, nervigen Grippevirus. Um es vorweg zu nehmen - geht mir wieder gut!! Noch ein Tag, dann mach ich mich auf nach Bolivien!! Aber von Anfang an. Bin zusammen mit Aline - der Schweizerin mit der ich eigentlich bis La Paz zusammen reisen wollte - fuer (geplant ...

Purmamarca y Tilcara son dos pequeños pueblos en medio de la Quebrada de Humahuaca. en medio delpaisaje arido de la puna se levantas estas dos joyas que parecieran detenidas en el tiempo. En Purmamarca se encuentra el cerro de los siete colores y en Tilcara el Pucara, ademas de celebrarse durante los fines de semana de enero el " Enero Tilcareño" una fiesta popular muy animada y divertida.