Gondola ride

Trip Start Jan 12, 2008
1
17
45
Trip End Apr 10, 2008


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Flag of Argentina  ,
Wednesday, February 6, 2008

We arrived in Salta at 630 wednesday morning.  ismael called a hostel and reserved us a room for that night, but we couldnīt check in until 10, so we hung out in the bus station, had some breakfast and played cards.  around 9 we headed towards the plaza to go to a bank and exchange some travelers checks.  all the banks were charging 3%, except one, but they said they wouldnīt exchange ours because they had never seen checks with 2 names on them.  whatever.  after that we headed to the post office to send a box home.  we had planned on doing it in la paz, but it was closed for carnaval.  these people really enjoy their carnaval, itīs basically a reason to drink for 5 or 6 days at a time and not work.  anyway, at the post office we had to buy brown paper and an entire roll of tape to wrap up the box.  after we had securely covered it with tape, they weighed it.  it was 3.7 kilos.  the weight classes are up to 3.5 kilos and then 3.5-5 kilos.  we had to pay for the 5 kilos.  we debated keeping it and filling it up to the 5, but we just wanted to be rid of it isn't he cute
isn't he cute
 .  and it only cost $30, a lot less than we had expected. 

after that we went to our hostel and took a nap.  for lunch we went to a place on the corner that had a parrillada for 2 people.  itīs all sorts of meats.  they even bring it out on a little grill with coals to keep it all warm.  i ate a few pieces of chicken.  ismael was in heaven.  there was steak, pork, liver, heart, kidney, and blood sausage.  i donīt understand him.  he overate and then took the rest for later.  we walked along the main road to a small pond and rented a paddle boat for 20 minutes.  then we went up a gondola to an overlook.  there was a really pretty park up there so we wandered around and enjoyed the views. 

that night we had dinner at the plaza.  it was so full of people.  the weather here is gorgeous, up until now itīs been a bit chilly everywhere.  all the restaurants have huge outdoor areas and they were all full. we finally went back to our hostel at 1130 and there were still people everywhere.  with the 2 hour time jump from bolivia, it doesnīt get dark until 1030, but then it doesnīt get light out until after 8.  it makes life go at a different pace. 

the next day we headed to the market for some lunch and then caught a sprinter to cafayate.  a sprinter is a small bus/large van that goes directly, no stops.  we arrived in cafayate around 430.  we were planning on camping here, so we had some food and then headed out of town to a campground.  we set up camp and then just relaxed, as best we could considering people were up all night and the campground across the street played loud music until 430 in the morning. 
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