Pacha Mama

Trip Start Jun 15, 2007
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Trip End Dec 06, 2008


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Flag of Argentina  ,
Tuesday, July 31, 2007

The city and state of Salta and Jujuy. Realistically Salta wasn't cracked up to what we thought it was going to be and on top of that we got stranded there for an additional two days more than planned because the only two bus companies that did the international border crossing to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile only did them on certain days and times and what was totally illogical was that they did them on the same days at the same times so if anybody's coming this way check that out. Never the less we needed a bit of r & r. The city of Salta does not have anything unique that any other South American city doesn't have but that said it's still quiet nice. Two of the worth while things to do in Salta are to take the gondola up the hill to get a view of the city and to go to the museum Maam museum archeological Alta Montana in the square where there are perfectly preserved mummies of Inca children sacrificed thousands of years ago on a mountain. The attraction with Salta is the surrounding state A bit out of place in San Antonio de los Cobres
A bit out of place in San Antonio de los Cobres
 . From the city there are probably 20 or 30 companies offering different trips to places like Cachi, Cafayate, Cabildo and the likes all of which are fabulous places to see. Some tours go into the next state of Jujuy. From the hostel HI backpackers we booked a tour to incorporate the path the Train Cloud took and also to see the Salta salt flats. The tour also stopped at the ruins of a pre Inca village in the Puna. We also stopped in another town called San Antonio de los Cobres where there was a big festival happening for Pachma Mama. In other words a celebration to give thanks to Mother Nature. It was great that we just happened to be there at that time. The locals were dishing out some strange drink, coca leaves, and cigarettes and playing music all free. It would have been rude not to avail of their generosity. All these things they were throwing into a hole in the ground for Mother Nature too as well as playing music throwing confetti over people and dancing in these crazy outfits. We stayed there for a few hours and then mozied on to the flats. Again I have to say the scenery was fabulous along the way, frozen rivers, mountains, little houses nowhere next or near civilisation and wild animals. The flats were cool but nothing to what they were supposed to be like Uyuni which I can tell you now is true as we were there the other day. (blog is a bit slow these days). The altitude we're at recently is 3000m to 4000m and more. It takes a bit of getting used to. Stopped off at a few other places on the return journey like a quaint little village called Purmamarca and the 7-colour hill. All in all it was a nice trip but over priced by the hostel. Two days later we did another trip as outlined by the hostel but just got a local bus and did it ourselves. Worked out grand, we were rattled to bits on the bus on the way home. The place we went to was Humahuaca. It's a nice village but the nicest thing was probably the scenery on the way. At one stage before we went above the clouds we were in a thick fog and all the trees and plants and electrical wires were laden with frost exactly as you'd see on a Christmas postcard. Above the clouds then the sun was splitting the rocks.
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