Northern Argentina

Ok, just deleted everything I wrote, so this is goint be brief!

Great to be back in Argentina with juicy steaks and wine. Disappointed it was raining when we arrived (surely it´s supposed to be hot up north?). We selected a hostel from the book, but it was shit (Tierra Oculta, don´t go there), so decided iti was about time for a bit of luxury..and we booked oursekves in to a 3 star, right on the main square (Victoria Plaza Hotel). I had one bath in the evening and another the next morning...lovely!

Next day (it had stopped raining) we booked in to backpackers HI, which was cool..good bar a terrace and great piss ups with Kevin the barman. It was also good as Audrey and Letiticia, plus a couple of other people we knew from San Pedro were there.

After all the tours in San Pedro, we were knackered, so spent most of our time in Salta shopping and relaxing. But we did take the ´bus a las nubes´ (bus to the clouds. It´s supposed to be an old locomotive to the clouds, but this is out of woking order at present. The salt flats were impressive, butu otherwise it was a very long day..15 hours, fo which 11 were spent in the bus (plus stoppage time for the drivers forgetting entry documents, and a puncture).

Also, we paid for a rafting tour..level 3..but were so hungover, we missed it. Silly us.

Amusingly, Hayley had also seen an offer for a 4 star hotel with a spa and pool, for 2 nights. So we booked in..and, guess what, she´d muddled the hotels..no spa and the pool was empty!! But nice to be back in luxury.

Cafayate

Horrible bus ride here, felt really sick, but defintiely worth it. Cafayate is a lovely, small, sleepy little town, again compsed all around the square. And it was hot! First day we went to a pool (massive) and second day we deliberated over a waterfall tour or a canyon tour. Plumped for the waterfalls We had in mind a hike upwards to a relaxing swim under the falls. Wrong. We were full on rock climbing. At some points the rock was vertical, nothing to grip onto and a sheer drop behind us. And Hayley and I in mini skirts! Thank Gos, we had trainers on. The guide , Frederico (?) was brilliant,,literally holding up up, picking us up. Could NOT have done it without him. It was great fun..and the swim we definitely earned!

Tucuman

A longg 7 hour journey, slightly south (why does the bus leave at 2am?). Despite it´s repuation as being nothing speacial, we liked it...it´s buzzing, warm, good bars, quite a bit to see and good shopping (splashed out on a dress for Christmas).

We saw Star Wars exhibition in one cultural centre..with a life size Chewy (Hayley less impressed, me very excited). And we saw an excellent, very moving exhibition in another place about feminism and treatment of women in Pakistan....we spent hours there.
Pertied hard at night, before heading heading back to Salta.

Salta (take 2)

Only 3 nights left and Hayley and I go our separate ways...very scary! We went back to backpackers. Spent the first day mooching and went out for our last restaurant meal (excellent steak, natch). Second night we partied with Kevin and 2 cool Candian guys, Seb and Jeremy (who I´m going to meet in Cusco). Last day we were both panicking about about being solo. We enjoyed the bbq and then poor Hayley had to get up at 4am to leave, and me at 6am. Lots of tears, am really going to miss her.

Nighmre jouneys ahead for both of us. Hayley, 24 hours to Iguassu and me, 23 hours to Arica. Solo travelling begins...