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Published: December 2nd 2007
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Mercedes and students
at our farewell lunch We got here, to Salta, after 11 hours on the overnight bus most of which time I had been asleep. Woken up once by Susan to try to stop me snoring too loudly. Had some breakfast in the sparkling bus station and cabbed it up the hill to our flat/house which will be home for the next three weeks. Overlooks the city but near enough to walk in. Susan did her homemaking - ie unpacked everything.
First day was very domesticated, found a laundry, went to the supermarket etc. Great to actually stay in and cook on occasion. Next day we met up with Mercedes who will be our Spanish teacher in Salta. Two hours a day, five days a week plus homework. Scorching hot day.
Actually enjoying the lessons (!) although it can be hard work. Have spent a bit of time walking around Salta seeing/ revisiting the sights. Quite a few tourists here but we still really like being here - trying not to look at property prices. At the weekend we indulged in two football games on the TV, saw Scotland lose to Italy live followed by Argentina v Bolivia in a 2010 qualifier. Not a
Susan makes new friends
and thinks about a new career in the police? great game but Argentina won 3:0 with a team that played as a collection of skilled individuals rather than a real team. Also went to the theatre to see a dance show - mixture of students and teachers/adults performing a range of Latin American dances plus some Flamenco. Tango was especially good - what do you expect!
For homesick travellers we found a deli, Casa Moderna, on Calle Espana, that has all sorts of imported stuff including curry powder, soy sauce and peanut butter.
Took a trip out on our first Sunday here, we went on the bus to San Lorenzo and had a bit of a walk and a very long lazy lunch. Slightly higher in the hills so a bit cooler than in the town. Well worth the one peso ride.
We have carried on mixing our lessons and homework with some culture: Friday we went to the ballet at the newly refurbished Teatro Provincial - last time we were here it was a fleapit cinema - very smart. Followed by a midnight dinner and then after dinner drinks at a bar on Balcarce until Susan had heard one too many Eric Clapton covers by
Salta Cathedral
Early morning on the way to school the band.
Of course we managed to watch England crash out of the Euro 2008 qualifiers, the day after Argentina lost in Columbia, but at least it meant the end of McLaren´s reign, the John Major of recent England managers. Perhaps he will turn out to have had a torrid affair with Sven´s Nancy!
The last week seems to have flown by without us doing a great deal that is new. We did sort out where we would be going over the next three weeks. Andrew managed to get a haircut - oddly enough the barber here asks about yoiur holidays too, we found , wrote and posted Xmas cards....Friday night we went out late to the Casona de Molinos and sat outside on the patio eating, drinking house red and listening to locals perform folklorico until about 2.30 when we were flagging but they looked like they would see the dawn.
After our final spanish lesson with Mercedes yesterday we went with her to a very posh members only club for lunch. Club is in one of the smartest buildings in Salta - near the statue of Gen Guemes.
Tomorrow we pick up the hire
car and head south in a figure of eight loop that will see us back near here for Xmas.
Time for a small rant: why oh why is it nearly always easier to buy Coca Cola products in South America than it is to get drinking water? The local dentists, of which there seem to be plenty, must make an absolute fortune dealing with the consequences. Nuff said.
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Debbie
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Home from Home
Love reading your bloggs. If there is one thing I've noted you both love to eat and drink with a little bit of local culture and sight seeing! Look forward to the next installment. Take care and enjoy the drink and lazy lunches Debbie