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Salta, a fine city.
Entry 28 of 54 | show all | print this entry |
This is one of those places that has managed to hold onto the wonderful architecture of the 1920s and some even much earlier. The on-going work is clearly obvious with scaffolding, supports and general maintenance around the streets, but the resultant show of so many buildings in their original contrasting pastel colours with exquisite patterns, carvings and sculptures is very impressive. Most towns and cities have given up trying to keep more than a small show area of their historical past, here it would appear that the powers that be have insisted on not destroying their heritage. Good luck to them, a costly decision that has, or will, reap rewards in the future. They can be proud of themselves.
Salta is quite large and the population quite young. Everywhere there is evidence of progress, the commercial offices abound, the shopping areas are busy, even the transport system is an improvement on most other S.A. places that I have seen. No doubt there is another side to Salta that I will not see although, as my family know only too well, it is quite usual for me to find the back street places, often where it is not very wise to wander.
In my enthusiasm last blog I mentioned the cathedral and praised it`s virtues, even ranking it amongst the best, I looked at it again today and still am very impressed. It is not the wonderful facade or the size, it is the rich, ornate, colourful interior that holds my fascination, the ceiling is domed with regular shapes and appears to be mosaic in most beautiful and rich colours. There are of course many chapels and statues and the altar too is extremely ornate, I just love it!
Today I saw the city from above by riding up to Cerro San Bernardo by the cable car, (at the price of 2 pounds it was cash well spent). The view from the top enables you to appreciate the position of Salta as it nestles in a lush green valley right up against the foothills of the rising Andes; the backbone of this huge continent. It is an image that I will not forget,
An odd thing occurred to me last night as I returned from dinner to the hotel, I must have passed six or seven police patrols on my ten minute journey, every one of them consisted of two policemen/women together. To us English tourists they always look quite threatening with their big boots, gaiters and guns on their hips, sometimes lashed down on their legs in cowboy fashion. I would have thought that one such police-person would deter any possible wrong-doer.
Tomorrow I expect to head further north into higher lands, not too far though, I figure one step at a time will suit my poor old body as the altitude increases and the air rarefies. Until the next blog, as usual TAKE CARE all you wandering womblers.
Peter T.
Latest Comments (2)
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finally caught up on the blogs (reply)
Feb 7, 2007 10:45 EST by wombleworm
I finally caught up on the blogs great to hear what you've been up to, makes me want to get moving! Salta and Foz both on my list of places to go but one more week of placement here in rio and of course carnival! Mind the altitude wotnot I've read other blogs where people have been quite poorly... We didn't have to press Hanna to ask you to come back to Foz she was adamant about seeing you before ... show all
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Salta (reply)
Feb 6, 2007 14:21 EST by aku-the-parrot
Salta... my old stomping ground... or at least Jujuy. Spent a year and a half there. Salta is beautiful but if you can get up to Jujuy and the Quebrada de Humahuaca... DO IT! Purmamarca is fab. So are Tilcara and Humahuaca. If you get as far as Iruya you'll see condors. If not, just make do with the llamas and guanacos and vicuñas (if you're lucky).
Have fun!
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