Advertisement
Published: February 16th 2009
Edit Blog Post
041 - Argentina - Cordoba
01/19/09 - 01/30/09
Argentina: Cordoba Culture, Iguazu Falls, and a Castle in Salta
written by Hannah Argentina is enormous and wonderfully western. We crossed the border from 'hot dog obsessed' Chile and traversed through the mighty Andes on our way to the cultural center of the Americas - Cordoba, Argentina. On the 20+ hr trip we met a new friend, Renee, from Australia and spent the next few weeks exploring Argentina with her.
The day we arrived just happened to be the International Day of Hope...otherwise knonw as Inaguration Day... the day Obama was sworn into the presidency. We found a great hostel and watched the show with an internationally diverse group, every one was excited! The next day we chose to follow the locals out of town to a favored swimming hole, and relaxed all day in the sun and cool waters of Villa Carlos Paz.
An intersting fact about South America is how intigral the Jesuit Missions were (are) to its development. Basically when the Spaniards began invading the land they sent in the missionaries to tame and educate the people. Many of these missions are still in
top condition and we decided to be 'cuturally aware' and visit a large one named Jesus Maria. It was fascinating and a little scary, note the picture of the whips they used to discipline themselves with!
Renee and I had a girls day out and went to the childhood home of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, which was truly educational. The house was converted to a museum dedicated to the life of the beloved Ernesto. I had watched the movie “Motorcycle Diaries” but seeing the original pictures and original motorcycle they drove around was awesome. That night we went to the annual Folklore Festival in Cosquin and got a great flavor for Argentinian folk music... and plenty of unsupervised shopping!
Early the next morning we set out on another 20+ hour bus trip to the far reaches where Argentina meets Paraguay and Brazil in an enourmous waterfall. It is difficult to describe the feeling and beauty of Iguazu which is touted as the largest in the world. I can tell you that viewing the smaller falls sent shivers down my spine, mother nature created a perfect balance of power and beauty in this place. We spent the day walking trails
and viewing the falls from every angle. It was so hot but the mist kept us cool, by the end we were all exhausted and, thanks to the mountains of negative ions we were showered with, had stupid grins on our faces.
Nico and I parted ways with Renee, who was heading to Brazil, and took another 23 bus ride to Salta, Argentina where my mom gifted us 2 nights at a castle (El Castillo de San Lorenzo). I need to tell you that all these bus rides are actually the best type of transportation in the world...better than 1st class in an airplane, with seats that lay totally flat and food and beverage service. It just so happened that this last (and longest) ride did not have the option for deluxe service... and I was none to happy to sit straight up with screaming children kicking the back of my seat the whole way. Thank the Lord for tranquelizers and movies, we survived unscathed and headed to our respite on the hill.
My mom and her friends had gone on a volunteer trip to Bolivia in September. Bolivia voted for a new constitution while they were there
and some people were not pleased. They attacked the US Embassy and were rioting in the streets. Mom and her friends 'escaped' safely across the border and landed in Salta where her travel agent told her about the San Lorenzo Castle. I received an email called “Refugees with Credit Cards” and pictures of her toasting champaigne in a big beautiful room. She knew that we were getting pretty travel weary and wanted us to have the same relaxing break that she had had a few months earlier. Thank you mom! It was despretly needed!
In Salta they have a 'museum of the high mountains' (Mueso Archeologico en los Montanas Altas) where they found 3 perfectly preserved mummies of children that were left as offerings. The bodies are kept criogenically frozen and alternate being on display to preserve the colors of skin and clothes. Although all the information was in Spanish we understood enough and were fascinated to see the little girl sitting crouched in the container, she looked like she was alseep and at any moment would open her eyes and stretch. All the hair and skin and clothes looked exactly as they were 500 years ago... and that
hasn't changed in the indiginous communities to this day.
Enough easy traveling in comfortable Argentina, its time for a change of pace. Next stop, a 4WD expedition across the altiplano of southern Bolivia!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.086s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 12; qc: 28; dbt: 0.0385s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Theresa
non-member comment
Hello
Hey Hannah and Nico, I was just thinking of your two and wondering where you were. Hope you are being enriched in how amazing this world is, and the different people that call the lands you visit, their "home" May God's love, consume you, Hugs, T