Drinking in the scenery
Trip Start
Jan 03, 2007
1
15
30
Trip End
Apr 05, 2007
Cafayate,
Argentina
Friday, February 9, 2007
After an incredibly scenic bus journey, ascending up to 3,900m and back down to 1,900, we have arrived in the quaint little artisan refuge of Cafayate (pronounced Cafe-chate). Winding down the Calchaqui valley again, the rocky cactus dotted mountains fanned into large wine estates, much more aesthetically dramatic (and less touristy) than the famed wineland region of Mendoza.
The bus journey was also not without its bit of drama. An Argentinian girl sitting next to Jules began writhing in pain and then fainted in the passage in attempt to get to the toilet. We got the bus driver to stop and took her outside on one of the hairpin mountain bends in order to get some fresh air as she was gasping for breath like a fish out of water
01-Vineyard tour in Cafayate
. I´ve never before seen anyone looking so close to death. Her skin had turned this pallid, clammy putty colour and her eyes had rolled back into her head whilst she writhed in pain on the sand (apparently with stomach pains). The bus driver called an ambulance, which arrived from Cafayate and she was whisked away with sirens blaring. Jules & I saw her walking around town last night though (still looking rather dazed and pale), so at least we know she survived. It could have been altitude or motion sickness but it seemed a lot more acute than that. Anyway, sure was a bit of drama to add to the benz of the bus ride :-)On our first day in Cafayate, Jules & I hired bikes for a couple hours and took another wine tour at one of the nearby estates (they offer them freely here, although most are in spanish). We bought two of their cheapest bottled wines (the same variety that they sell in 5l bottles for 12 pesos...approx R24) and drank the white last night - some of the fruitiest (but still dry), aromatic and easiest drinking wine I´ve ever tasted.
We off on an excursion of the Calchaqui Valley this afternoon which promises to be a photographer´s colour palate - the rock formations in this canyon have amazing coloured minerals.
Promise to upload some more photos shortly
Chau
