9 April 2006
Salta: Road Trip 2
Day 187 - Saturday 25th March 2006
Part two of The Road Trip started out with a very uninspiring vist to a cheese-making factory, but this was soon over and it was into the good bit. Between Cafayate and Salta there were numerous locations to stop and take in some of the most impressive scenery I had seen in all Argentina.
The natural rock formations were the essence of the journey. Fortunately the road was paved so it was simply a matter of driving, stopping, taking photos and carrying on to the next outstanding photo opportunity. No shuddering and bumping on this trip.
At first the road ran through some ordinary fields, but it soon reached the good bits, and in particular the Quedbrada de las Conchas (Shells Ravine). As so often seems to be the case, the road followed the course of another river cutting a path through the mountains. The decent bit of the route ran a total of 83kms through the Calchaquies Valleys, along the way passing through a few old settlements.
Some of the rock formations had been given names of things that someone had dreamed upbecause he thought they resembled something. Whether they did or not, we kept stopping to photograph the rocks. More often than not we were unable to make out exactly what we were supposed to be looking at, but they all looked pretty enough so we snapped away anyway. Although the majority were unrecognisable, we managed to decipher a few of the more obvious ones, such as the frog and the ampitheatre, a huge cavern which rose some 50m above our heads.
Some of the names such as the Castle were pretty tenuous but they were still worth a photo. Despite only being 83km on a paved road the journey took a good few hours due to the photo stops, however the remainder of the 190km total journey took no time at all as there was little of interest, and by that time it had begun to pour with rain.
Arriving back in Salta during hte early evening we were in time ofr the BBQ in the hostel, an absolute meat feast, all-you-can-eat extravaganza. With the BBQ there was copious amounts of wine, so come 1am a group of us (3 Swedes, 2 Devonshire lads and myself) took a taxi to the bar area of Salta and proceeded to indulge in numerous litres of Quilmes and Salta Cerveza. Going to a club named Blue we stayed there until the early hours and I rocked back to the hostel at about 7am for a much needed kip.
7 Comments on 'Salta: Road Trip 2'
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Still in Bolivia, in a town called Sucre where I spent the weekend. Heading to La Paz on an overnight bus this evening, probably going to spend the next week in around that area.
Love to everyone……
Posted by Roy on: 9th April 2006 at 19:28 pm
Leg - end, keep on the all you can eat meat feasts but for the love of all thats holy, take photos. mmmmm meat.
oh yeah, sort your fro out too, absolute puff. Peace out.
Posted by pistol pete on: 10th April 2006 at 13:20 pm
Hey up Mucka!!
Been a bit behind on the travel activities out here in the States, but having now caught up its great to see your still at it in style!
Currently in California and loving every minute!
Another wkend back at Vegas, with Top Fuel Drag Racing & a Helicopter tour to the Grand Canyon for good measure!
Well, I’ll have to get you up to date with other info sometime soon, but until then take great care of yourself. Keep up the great Adventure. Word!
Posted by Mannequin Man on: 11th April 2006 at 03:51 am
hello, hows things?
Hope you like the photo of dad I sent to your email
keep safe
Posted by roz on: 11th April 2006 at 21:20 pm
Hiya mate, still keep reading and admiring. Hope everything is still OK.
Cricket Season about to start in a couple of weeks time, if you get your skates on you should be back in time for Felixstowe away!
You are not in my fantasy side this year, dedication is shoddy and you weren’t at the nets…..come to think of it hardly anyone was.
Take it easy mate.
Kee
Posted by Kee on: 11th April 2006 at 22:47 pm
How’s the shoe leather - you must need a new pair now - the weather here is now on the up - and we will all be trying to better your tan - keep safe - luv..
Posted by Lyn on: 12th April 2006 at 09:24 am
How’s it going mate!?!?!
Hope things are sweet, Pics never fail to astound, and that hat is simply breathtaking!
Keep on Rolling!!
Posted by OC on: 16th April 2006 at 15:46 pm