Salta, Argentina

Salta

Friday 20th April

So, our bus from Mendoza gets us into Salta Bus Terminal just after midday. First thing to do is make our way to the hostel 'Hostel in Salta', which seems quite near, as far as the map is concerned.

20 minutes later (walking!), we get to the place and are shown to our delightful 'attic' room (room 3), which has it's own bathroom. Breakfast is included here too. At the time of writing this, I can't remember how much the room cost, but it was one of the cheapest places we had stayed in Argentina, around GBP6 a night for both of us.

Walked into town and stpped at the large main Plaza (9 de Julio) and had some lunch on the square.

The plaza is very pretty and not troubled by too much traffic. The square is surrounded by orange trees and interesting Colonial buildings, which are combinations of museums, restaurants, cafes and small shops.

Nice lunch, and cheap too, and pleased/surprised to see Susanne, who we met a few weeks ago in Torres del Paine. She's now travelling with her friend Britta, since Mike went home from Calafate.

Pleased to catch up over lunch, and we plan to meet up again in the evening.

With full tums, we walk across to the Cable Car (Teleferico) to take us up the hill for vies of the city and further out.

The view are good, and the facilities at the top of the cable car are quite well done - restaurant, neat waterfall, various viewing sites. Views of the surrounding peaks slightly obscured by clouds, though it's still quite warm.

After an hour at the top, we walk back down to town, though initially getting lost and walking off towards the nearest peak. The proper path down takes you through a green wooded area, leading to the Güemes Monument. General Martín Miguel de Güemes, a hero of the wars of independence.

Trying to be organised, we went back via the bus station to get out tickets out of here, to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), for Sunday. We would hang around here longer, but the weather forecast not so good for the next few days, and the next bus isn't until Tuesday.

Only two bus companies go from here to San Pedro (Pullman and Geminis) and both go on the same days, 3 days a week. The Gemini bus was full for Sunday, so went with Pullman - prices pretty much the same, we paid 140Pesos each, semi-cama.

Rushed back to the hostel to change, before heading back out to meet with Susanne for dinner. Had a lovely evening, though back quite early. Susanne and Britta get a 5am bus tomorrow!

Saturday 21st April

Both of us woke up feeling a little grotty, and we stayed in bed, missing breakfast.

Finally got into town around noon, and had some lunch and a litre of orange juice, for health reasons! Christine's Submarino (hot mile with a bar of choc melted into it) cheered her up.

As it's siesta time, and not much open, we walked around the interesting town bordering the main plaza.

Later, after 5pm when things spring to life again, we visited the Museum of High Altitude Archaeology. Several mummies are stored here, but only one (amazingly preserved) is on show to the public. There are some photos of 3 others recently found - 3 children, who look as though they have only recently died. The 'Queen of the Mountain' is on show - a girl offered (sacrificed) to the Inca divinities at the summit of Chuscha Mountain.

In the early 1920´s the tomb of the girl was looted and the mummy was bought by a collector from Buenos Aires. Thankfully her last owner saw fit to contact the Centre for the Studies in Applied Politics, and after 82 years the mummy was returned to the province of Salta in 2006.

The body looks quite disfigured, but you can steill see hair and teeth.

More than 200 mountains with archaelogical remains have been discovered in the Andes.

Also on show at the (quite small) museum are some objects that were found with the mummy - a necklace, shells, bowls, combs and other pottery.

After the museum, we visit the Cathedral, also on the main Plaza.

Lonely Planet right to call it gaudy! It's pink and white outside and the inside is quite ornate, with paintings and an elaborate golden altar.

Next, and also on the Plaza, we visited the Old City Hall (18th Century Cabildo). It houses religious and modern art - pottery, funeral urns, furniture, historic coins, as well as some old vehicles.

Unfortunately only 1 solitary sign in English, so not a huge amount of information gained, but interesting anyway, and worth the 2 Pesos entrance.

A little sorry that we're feeling grotty on our last night in Argentina, and not too excited about the early start tomorrow... (which also means we'll miss breakfast again!)

Sunday 22nd April

The hostel ordered a taxi for us to take us to the bus station, glad that it turned up on time at 6.30am - worst nightmare is to miss a bus!, especially in a place where the next one isn't for 2 more days.

Anyway, we're on time and get some cheap croissants at the bus station and use up the last of our Argentinian Pesos.

The bus leaves pretty much on time, and leg room is pretty good, on this semi-cama bus, which is mainly full of tourists.

The route takes us via San Salvador de Jujuy and we pass some amazing mountainous scenery, where we remember that we're feeling the effects of the altitude.

Food served onboard is basic, but welcome.

Took quite a while getting through the border control - we've been lucky so far, usually we done within 20 minutes, but here at least an hour.

Arrive in Chile for the last time...

to be continued on next thread...