Blogs from Salta, Salta, Argentina, South America - page 3

MUSEUM 2 was dedicated to showing ancient children (their bodies still frozen and preserved.) The Incas believed mountains were gods or ‘apus’ who protected nearby communities and therefore they built structures on mountains for rituals (many of which were built in Salta.) The children had been dead but preserved in freezing temperatures after having had rituals performed on their bodies and having been sacrificed to the Gods. One of the ‘sacred’ mountains where children were found on was Mount Llullaillaco. Archaeological digs and expeditons are being carried out all the time and more and more objects from the Incas are still being discovered.We got to see many recent expeditions on video tapes. MOUNT LLULLAILLACO Mount Llullaillaco is an inactive volcano located between Chile and Argentina. It is 6.739 metres high and used to mark the border ... read more

Days 70-72 our San Pedro hostel had one of the best breakfasts this trip so we loaded up for another long 12 hr travel day to Salta in Argentina for 2.5 days. While waiting at the bus station an independent Australian couple had a small backpack stolen from under their eyes & lost passports & whatever else. A heartbreaking scene to see their distress when told they weren't allowed to get on the bus as they did not have a passport to enter Argentina. Leaving San Pedro we retraced the road back to the turnoff to the Bolivian border but this time we had a very slow climb back up 2000 mtrs in in altitude. If a 12 hr bus ride can be considered pleasant this trip qualifies at least for 2/3 rds of the way ... read more

We were all ready and packed and mentally prepared to leave our safe haven in Buenos Aires until it transpired that there wasa national transport strike and nothing was running the day we were due to leave. We booked in to a hostel near where we were staying and just had to suck it up for another night. after an extremely lazy/food filled day and sleep we were on our first bus of the final leg, heading north/inland to the second city of Argentina, Cordoba. 12 hours later we arrived without event, pretty done in from the journey. I wont go on too much about Cordoba because I dont really have much to say about it! A pleasant enough place but I didnt feel so excited by it.. nice churches, plazas and full of universities it ... read more

From Dusty Desert to Rain Forest Leaving Iquique and heading south down the Pacific coast to Tocopilla, we made good time, despite the massive road works while they create yet another toll motorway, at this stage as far as the Airport. We refuelled our motos and us at the Shell gas station in Tocoppila, before we headed inland, up into the the high desert once again. We made good pace in spite of the heat and isolation, with a couple of stops for drinks and a snack. As we approached Calama, we reached the highest point so far at 4845m. Some of the riders were feeling the effect of altitude by now and needed more rest stops. We regrouped at Calama, beside the worlds biggest Copper mine, the tailings are as big as mountains themselves, with ... read more

After an exhausting 21 hour bus journey we finally arrived in the Northern Argentinian City of Salta. Upon arriving at our hostel, we did the only thing we could manage...sleep. A couple of hours later, feeling a little more refreshed, we strolled into the centre of this historic city to have a look around the main square and admire the colonial architecture the city is famed for. The centre piece of the square is a spectacular cathedral, which was holding a service just as we were strolling past. We poked our heads in to discover an incredibley opulent interior covered in gold. Just as we were leaving, a local lady approached us asking if we were catholic; as we were standing in a Catholic Church Rich felt obliged to say yes and the woman gave us ... read more