Womblekisses's travel blogs:
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After Tucaman
Entry 3 of 19 | show all | print this entry |
Not sure where I left you ... Tucaman? Cafayet?
Not Salta so I will start there. It is a big, sprawling, fume ridden city with far too many people for my personal comfort, however in the centre there is the typical peaceful square, with comforting shade from high trees, grassy areas, and plenty of places to sit while the world passes by. There is also a large and interesting museum, mostly in Spanish, but it was possible to pick up some of the local history. Far too much and complex for a mere blog.
It was a relief to leave Salta on yet another overnight bus heading for La Quiaca, the border town and jumping off point for Bolivia. This tiny town, small, dusty and where the major interest was the fact that fat cactus plants were growing happily alongside holyhocks says it all. On the other hand I have to mention the bus terminal where we arrived on a chilly dark morning around 6.30am. The people getting off our bus were pushy, each one determined their luggage should be unloaded first, although why is a mystery because the town was silent and sleepy at this hour. On the other hand the queue outside the ladies toilet was incredible; voluminous skirts, blankets covering shoulders and all needing the loo; you've have to be pretty desperate to join that queue so I waited. Elsewhere people sat, shoulders hunched; hugging thick woollen blankets to keep out the dawn chill as they waited although it was not entirely clear exactly what for.
Crossing the border was scary in its simplicity and catching a bus here so jammy ... Peter went off to find somewhere to buy a ticket and returned minutes later, kind lady and young lad in tow. Whoosh, our luggage was stowed and we were seated (determined to have seats!) and being bumped and bone-shaken along the unmade Bolivian roads. To state the obvious, this is a poor country. The dwellings along the road side as close to wattle and daub you can get; the vast majority of the roofs a muddy stone concoction. The whole vista is grey with scrub vegetation totally lacking in any colour, except for tiny bright orange flowers along the roadside who struggle to stay mud free. Further on in the journey though we began to see the wonder of the Andes, tall, grand and beautifully coloured making up in some measure for the lack of colour elsewhere.
Tupiza is also dusty, despite the torrential rain which paradoxically makes it a mass of slippery puddles; the roads become individual riverlets. We are in a hotel which makes a change, also have a nice room and the chance to use a swimming pool .. if the rain holds off long enough. It is cold at night, but an interesting place. The women´s dress is a source of fascination, but this is enough for today because you are getting weary of reading all this stuff!
Tomorrow an (almost) obligatory tour which is exciting because I think the beauty around here will be breathtaking. Monday the train to Uyuni ... a step closer to the salt lakes.
At home and away, all take care and have fun. I do hope the floods recede.
xxxx
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