Blogs from Salta, Argentina, South America - page 2

Suzanne here... I was slightly dubious about spending18 hours on a bus, but it was by far the cheapest way to get up to Salta. In fact it wasn't too bad. As we moved north the scenery changed to plains and mountains, looking much more like the Argentina of my imagination. We did pass a double-decker bus by the side of the road which I can only described as decapitated. The prospect of an overnight bus didn't thrill me after that. But it was fine. Even if it did take 20 hours in the end. We finally arrived at Salta. Our first job was to book onward tickets to Chile. Unfortunately due to a storm the mountain pass was closed and they could not confirm whether or not the bus we wanted would be running. This ... read more

29.11.2016 Laguna Colorado Am morgen machten wir uns auf den Weg Laguna Colorado - Bolivian Alteplano. Eine unebene Straße über Stock und Stein ging es ein paar Stunden durch den Nationalpark. Wir sahen die Blaue Lagune, viele Flamingos und vor unserer Übernachtung in einem "Hostel" gingen wir noch auf eine Aussichtsplattform um den Sonnenuntergang zu bewundern. 30.11.2016 Auf nach Chile - Atacama Wüste. Vorm Boarder machten wir kurz noch einen Stopp und legten eine Lunchpause ein. Kurz bevor wir zusammen gepackt hatten - kam ein Sandsturm. Nachdem wir startklar waren- fuhren wir über die Grenze nach Chile nach San Pedro de Atacama. Nach der langen fahrt wollten wir nur noch ein Dinner und dann ins Bett (ein sehr gemütliches Bett und schönes Zimmer) 1.Dezember 2016 Der erste Dezember steht vor der Tür - jedoch haben wir ... read more

Monday, 12thSept. thru Wednesday, Sept 28. Hola from Argentina, where the food is good, the wine is better and the people are helpful and friendly. We have had a lot of fun with random persons met over the past two weeks. Waiters, waitresses and taxi drivers have been especially helpful as we fumble along with our our limited Spanish. We are always smiling and laughing and this just attracts like minded people. Observations worth mentioning, Graffiti is rife, we have always felt safe in BA, also most Argentinian girls are tiny and wear ridiculous 5" platform shoes to compensate for their lack of height. Our last two days days in BA before the long trek North; the decision is made to hang around the apartment, relax and leave only for lunch and tango lessons. Outside it ... read more

The Cafayate (CAH-fah-SCHA-tay, as the Argentinians pronounce it) valley is one of the finest wine regions in Argentina. There are around 20 public bodegas (wine factories) in and around town; the valley floor and surrounding hills are covered in vineyards. The 4 hour bus ride from Salta was stunningly beautiful, especially in the tight, broken valley (Quebrada del Río de Las Conchas) about 20 km before Cafayate, with moonlike eroded rock formations like parts of the American West. It's possible to return to do tours and treks, or to rent a bike and ride there from Cafayate, with proper bike trails part of the way. The town itself isn't much- mainly a cluster around Route 40 that's a hub for tourists and bodegas. The quality of the wine at the bodegas varies quite a bit- some ... read more

Da wir nicht nochmals 19 Std. mit dem Bus fahren wollten, haben wir uns den Luxus eines 1,5stuendigen Fluges nach Salta gegoennt. 1582 gegruendet und nicht wie Mendoza durch Erdbeben zerstoert, zeigt sich die Stadt mit hellen Kolonialbauten und barocken Kirchen. Hier mieteten wir wieder ein Auto um den Nordwesten Argentiniens kennenzulernen. Wir besuchten Orte wie Cafayate, Cachi, Tilcara, Uquia, Humahuaca und Purmamarca. So klangvoll wie die Namen, so spektakulaer ist das, was die Natur zu bieten hat. Ueberzeugt Euch selbst!! Nach diesem Naturschauspiel fliegen wir morgen nach Buenos Aires.............. read more